A former pastor was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday for sexually abusing a preteen girl for a number of years.
Ralph
W. Barnett, 74, of 4216 N. Patricia Court, spoke in soft and measured
tones. He apologized for his actions, telling Judge David Brown that it
“just happened” and he was going through a bad time in his life. He told
the judge he stopped himself after five years and now was seeking
repentance and forgiveness.
But the judge took
issue with the statement that Barnett “just happened” to begin abusing
the girl in 2003 and then just stopped in 2008.
“It
just doesn’t happen that you enter into a sexual relationship with a
child for several years,” he said, before imposing sentence. The judge
said probation, which Barnett wanted due to his extensive medical
issues, wasn’t appropriate as children needed to be protected and a
message had to be sent.
Former pastor sentenced to three years for sexually abusing preteen girl - News - Journal Star - Peoria, IL
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