Inside the Courtroom
Trial of the Child Molestation Case
WARNING: Some readers may find the content of this story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
On Sept. 11, while our country mourns the fifth anniversary of our nation's worst domestic tragedy, another domestic tragedy will unfold in a suburban Atlanta courtroom. Former foster parent Ronald William Shelton will be put on trial before the Superior Court of Gwinnett County, Ga., for molestation of two of his foster children.
The allegations are grim. The State of Georgia accuses Shelton of nine counts of child molestation and aggravated child molestation. Eight of the counts include sexual acts between Ronnie Shelton and a young girl. The remaining count includes a sexual act with a young boy.
Fostering Families Today is undertaking a unique opportunity to share the story of a real life foster parent on trial for allegations of child sexual abuse. Each day, Fostering Families Today through an experienced, knowledgeable, former foster parent, Erik Cooper, will bring to you a summary of actual trial events, including the jury selection process, opening statements of both the prosecutor and defense, victim and witness testimony, closing arguments and, of course, the verdict. The intent is not to sensationalize or exploit the life-changing events of this legal process. View this trial as a classroom, where we will identify in layman's terms, the legal procedure and terminology commonly used in the courtroom to enhance your understanding of the process as it unfolds.
We strongly recommend reader discretion of this story. Some readers may be offended by the content. Details of the accusations against Shelton may be considered graphic and disturbing to some readers. Please do not allow any child to read our coverage of this trial.
Coverage of this case will be objective and impartial. Neither this publication nor this writer will claim the innocence or guilt of Ronnie Shelton. Instead, as our readers, you will be provided fair and balanced coverage of the daily courtroom activities. Both Fostering Families Today and I are excited about this unique opportunity to share with you, trial of the child molestation case.
Fostering Families Today will provide daily updates of courtroom testimony available at www.adoptinfo.net. Upon conclusion of the trial, Fostering Families Today will publish a complete story of Trial of the Child Molestation Case. |
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Inside the Ronald William Shelton Child Molestation Case
By Erik A. Cooper
Ronald William Shelton, known as “Ronnie” to his family and friends, was a dedicated foster parent. He and his wife, Lynn, welcomed many foster children into their home over nearly 10 years of foster care service for the Gwinnett County Department of Family and Children Services (agency). The Shelton’s foster home was situated in Lawrenceville, a small town northeast of Atlanta. The Shelton home was a simple residence surrounded by hardwood trees and set back off of the roadway. Children were often observed playing outside, enjoying acres of land where they could safely ride their bicycles, toss footballs, and just be kids.
As a former foster parent myself, I met Ronnie and his wife Nov. 30, 2000. Two boys, 8-year-old Mark and his 5-year-old brother, David, had recently been removed from their mother and siblings and were placed in my foster home. Days later and without much explanation, the agency moved the boys to the Shelton’s foster home. The boys and I were devastated. I kept in contact with Mark and David by telephone and, at one time, had to intervene in Mark’s threats of suicide and plans to runaway. The Sheltons and I quickly became friends and I ended up visiting with the boys every other weekend for more than a year. I spent time with the Shelton’s, enjoying home cooked meals at their dinner table, going to church, and spending time at each of our vacation homes.
One day while visiting the Shelton’s foster home, I was greeted at the doorway by a 13-year-old girl. She said she was watching the younger foster children while Ronnie and Lynn were at work. She introduced herself as Emma. Seconds later, a young boy darted through the doorway and into the yard to play, quickly followed by Mark and David. Emma said the other boy was her younger brother, Ryan. Our conversation was brief as I loaded Mark and David into my truck and left for our respite weekend together.
That encounter was my first and only contact with Emma. She later accused Ronnie Shelton of molesting her. I never formally met her brother Ryan.
In 2003, I filed an unprecedented legal action to adopt Mark, David, and their two older siblings. I hoped to keep the four brothers together. What I couldn’t have known was that my legal action to adopt these boys possibly threatened the agency. Since each agency receives funding based on how many children are in their care, they also would have received less funding if I had successfully adopted the boys. If I had won my adoption, new Georgia case law would have been established allowing foster parents, like me, to adopt their foster children without the intervention of the child welfare agency. I lost my adoption after being falsely accused of nine counts of child molestation. I was put on trial for two and one-half weeks and ultimately acquitted. I shared my story with readers of Fostering Families Today in the March/April 2006 issue.
Following my own criminal arrest in January 2003, Ronnie and his wife were asked to testify on my behalf regarding their first-hand knowledge of my interactions with Mark and David, and efforts of the agency to prevent my adoption. Though I considered us friends, Ronnie and his wife refused to support my defense. Eight months later, Ronnie was jailed for molesting 13-year-old Emma.
Case Summary
On July 12, 2003, Gwinnett County police detective J. L. Abercrombie obtained three criminal arrest warrants for Ronald William Shelton on charges of child molestation and aggravated child molestation. Detective Abercrombie accused Shelton of engaging in lewd sexual acts with a minor child. Shelton was arrested and jailed in the Gwinnett County Detention Center. On Nov. 19, 2004, Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge R. Timothy Hamil released Shelton on a $25,000 bond. Shelton was instructed to have no contact either directly or indirectly with the victim or her brother, and was prohibited from having unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16.
On Jan. 7, 2004, Gwinnett county district attorney Daniel J. Porter presented an eight-count indictment against Ronald William Shelton for criminal acts of child molestation and aggravated child molestation involving alleged sexual acts with his 13-year-old foster daughter, Emma. In Georgia, a grand jury only hears evidence against an accused individual presented by the state prosecutor alone. Except upon invitation by the district attorney, defendants and their counsel are not permitted to attend grand jury hearings to provide alternative evidence. The grand jury of 12 men and 11 women unanimously indicted 53-year-old Ronald William Shelton on all eight counts of child molestation and aggravated child molestation.
Assistant district attorney Tracie Hobbs represents the State of Georgia in prosecuting this case. Hobbs is a long-term prosecutor for the district attorney’s office and a member of its child protection team. She is known to be firm and aggressive, a fighter for her victim’s rights. She wins many of her cases.
Following a pre-trial hearing in 2005, the victim’s younger brother, Ryan, alleged Ronald William Shelton initiated a sexual encounter with him as well. Assistant district attorney Hobbs presented a new indictment to a Gwinnett county grand jury, and on March 23, 2005, Ronald William Shelton was indicted again on the original accusations and ninth count involving aggravated child molestation of the young boy. Shelton was arraigned and released on bond.
Honorable Judge R. Timothy Hamil specially set the trial of Ronald William Shelton to begin on Sept. 11, 2006. The trial is expected to last more than two weeks. Many witnesses are scheduled to appear. If convicted, Ronald William Shelton faces up to 230 years in prison – 30 years for each count of aggravated child molestation, and 20 years for each count of child molestation.
Is it conceivable that there may be a conspiracy by state child welfare agencies to accuse foster parents of child sexual abuse? Are foster parents easier targets than others to be falsely accused? Do some foster parents victimize vulnerable foster children?
What do you think? Share your opinion by e-mailing us at louis@adoptinfo.net or editor@adoptinfo.net.
For more information about Erik Cooper’s personal story, visit his Web site at www.ErikCooper.com. You may also read Cooper’s article, Devastating Effects of False Allegations: A Survivor’s Story, written exclusively for Fostering Families Today online at: http://www.fosteringfamiliestoday.com/FFT/fft_web/ci_spotlight_beanId_2837.html.
DISCLAIMER: Trial of a Child Molestation Case is a true story involving actual events and the people involved. Whenever possible, the actual names of those involved in the case have been used. All minor children’s names have been changed to protect them. All information is available through access of public records, including actual courtroom testimony, transcripts, and other written documentation. Some information may not be available under seal of the court.
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