Yes, I think it was discussed that both sides had good reason for not wanting to go to trial, the time was definitely an issue. I don't know why anyone would say that he plead to avoid prison time when that was not part of the the plea, they just reduced the charges to something of which they were sure he would get convicted. Sad, sadb business for sure. We will ahve to keep everyone involved in prayer.
I am new here too and I also feel so sad about all of this. I think we need to pray for everyone too because Jesus wants us to love all and try to help everyone. We even need to try and help the bad ones, because Christ helped us all when we were all bad and lost too saying I have not come to condemn but to save.
I also think we need to read all, and ask questions beyond what is said because there is much we don't know and need to figure out and that isn't made known yet.
I don't want to hurt your feelings, because I did read a news article here about the charges being reduced because what the person had to say didn't warrant that, but I also read the Washington Post about the plea bargain. It was posted here a couple of times now. This is what the Washington Post said today:"Fairfax prosecutors agreed to a deal in which the man would spend no time in jail."You just said "I don't know why anyone would say that he plead to avoid prison time when that was not part of the the plea" . Maybe you could consider readings things before saying things like that? It would help, and not cause people to be confused. Unless you are saying that because you know the newspaper is wrong? I am sorry if that is what you are saying but this is all really confusing to me because of what you said and I don't want anyone to say the wrong thing. I do want to know the right thing.
Possibly I can clarify this. Yes, it was part of the plea (no prison time) you are correct Harley. Let me also make one thing CRYSTAL clear. The defense is the one who asked for and proposed the plea deal as it now stands. The prosecution consulted with us and we accepted. I am limited on what I can discuss, but if you read the news report as Harley pointed out it clearly states that.
Minister pleads guilty to molesting boys in Fairfax
The former pastor of a Fairfax County church pleaded guilty Monday morning to molesting two boys who were members of his church in the 1990s, and Fairfax prosecutors agreed to a deal in which the man would spend no time in jail.
But Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Randy I. Bellows said he may not accept the deal, in which case the defendant, Tommy R. Shelton Jr., could withdraw his plea and take the case to another judge.
Shelton, 65, was the pastor of Community Church of God in the Dunn Loring area from 1995 to 2000. Authorities said two men came forward to Fairfax police in 2008 and alleged that Shelton sexually assaulted them in the 1990s.
Shelton, who had been living in Kentucky, was arrested in March.
Both victims were in the courtroom for Shelton's pleas to two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child under the adult's supervision. Each charge carriies a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Both said afterward they approved the plea deal, even without jail time, as long as Shelton admitted his guilt and was placed on the sex offender registry.One of the men testified at a May hearing, and Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Katherine E. Stott confirmed Monday, that Shelton had performed oral sex on him in 1995 or 1996, when he was 14. Shelton had been seeing the boy for counseling and piano lessons, Stott said, and told him that their various sexual activity was "the type of relationship a father and son had."
The other man testified in May that when he was 11, he and Shelton would go on bike rides, and Shelton would direct him into the woods and then fondle him. Stott said on one occasion, Shelton molested the boy in the kitchen of the Community Church of God.
Bellows, a former federal prosecutor, seemed skeptical of a plea bargain with no jail time. "I'm telling you all right now," the judge said, "I may ultimately reject this agreement."
Shelton has been free on bond, and Bellows said that without the plea agreement, "I would have little doubt about incarcerating the defendant pending sentencing." But prosecutors did not ask for Shelton's bond to be revoked, or for any jail sentence, so he allowed Shelton to remain free.
Bellows asked the prosecutor why she had agreed to the plea deal proposed by defense attorneys Kimberly Irving and Thomas Pavlinic. Stott said she had discussed the proposal with the two victims, and the risks of going to trial,
and they had accepted it. She said the only evidence would be the two men's testimony about events up to 15 years ago, that Shelton had not spoken to police and had no prior criminal record.
After the hearing, the victims said they would be prepared to testify at trial if the judge rejects it and Shelton goes to trial.
"It's been a long time coming," said one of the men, now 24, who noted that allegations of abuse have followed Shelton through other ministries in other states. "I know many of the victims, and I know they are happy with this too."
The other victim, now 29, said, "He's taken something for me I'll never get back...As long as he's admitted guilt and he's a registered sex offender, that he can't do this to others, that's really what I wanted."
Shelton declined to comment after the hearing. Bellows ordered a pre-sentence report, and set a sentencing hearing for Sept. 24, where he will decide whether to accept or reject the plea deal.
-- Tom Jackman
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/fairfax/minister-pleads-guilty-to-