Posted on 11/16/2006 5:28:19 PM PST by mcg2000
Former Fox 13 anchorman Ron Meroney pleaded guilty in Maryland this morning to child sexual abuse and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but the judge suspended all but 18 months, which Meroney will serve under electronic monitoring when he returns to his Arlington, Tenn., home.
Meroney, a minister and former host of Fox's "Good Morning, Memphis" show, had been indicted on a charge of statutory rape last December stemming from an incident in 1974 involving a 4-year-old girl.
He was ordered to register as a child sex offender and was told to have no unsupervised contact with minor children and to enroll in a state-approved sex offender program.
Meroney was at Fox 13 since December 1995 after running a radio station near St. Petersburg, Fla., that played pop-style Christian music. In the late 1950s, he replaced well-known TV personality Wink Martindale on Channel 13's "Top Ten Dance Party."
According to court records in Towson, Md., near Baltimore, seven criminal charges were filed against Meroney in July 1984 that included child sexual abuse, assault and rape.
All were dismissed a month later with the exception of a charge of third-degree sexual offense in which he was given probation before judgment, a resolution in which a defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty but with the final judgment technically suspended. The case can be expunged after a specified period of good behavior.
Third-degree sexual offense involves someone at least age 21 who engages in a sexual act with someone age 14 or 15.
"Former Fox 13 anchorman Ron Meroney pleaded guilty in Maryland this morning to child sexual abuse and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but the judge suspended all but 18 months, which Meroney will serve under electronic monitoring when he returns to his Arlington, Tenn., home."
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Voter should throw this judge out or the politician that appointed him.
AND the politician!!! suspended sentence?? it was a 4 YEAR OLD, good Lord!
I revise my "Melanies Law" or Jessicas Law, whichever regulates the distance away from schools etc.
It is unconstitutional, it's unconstitutional to allow these slimes out of jail EVER!! In Tenn, this guy might not see the light of day once released.
There's a lot missing from this story. For starters, why did it take 30 years to indict him, and what tolled the statute of limitations? I wonder if this is one of those cases where the prosecution rests on "recovered memories"?
Every "caring and nuturing minister, child care provider, boy or girl scout leader, Priest, youth camp volunteer, and anyone else with daily, unsupervised care of children" should be suspect, and subject to some kind of monitoring. This crap hs gone on far too long.
Kinda looks like Robert Blake.
I agree, unfortunately. I would never enter that field in this day and age!! Too open to lawsuits for no reason as well as the cases that are justified.
It is clear though, we have to protect our kids, since the law won't. Whatever it takes!
I agree. It sounds like what he was accused of in 1984 was more serious than this and all of it was dismissed. Sounds a lot like "since we didn't get him there we'll find something else". Also sounds agenda driven.
Maybe you missed it, but the Man is a Minister.
. I think it's a typo on the first part, it appears the crime was against a 14 year old, not a 4 year old. (Not to excuse anything whatsoever!)
Looks like actor John Lithgow.
Who cares what the age was? The issue seems to be hiding in the guise of an upright citizen while preying on the weakest among us. How many of these stories do we need before we stop defending these parsons and priests?
no ... I've checked multiple news sources ... 4 years old.
"To get a deal like this...I can't help wondering if the creep's attorney tried a "It was just about sex" approach. "
Or, more likely, he was told that should he go to trial and lose, he would get 25, 50, life, whatever. Would you plead to this or "do you feel lucky, Punk? Well do ya?"
I have stated on this forum before that I helped represent a fella that was charged with assaultand robbery with priors. He was offered 2.5 years. He had an almost...ALMOST solid defense but since he had priors and was a Dirty Dozen gang member, he took the plea.
His defense?? He had just gotten out of intensive care with a massive heart attack the day before.
As a MI survivor, I can state that no one can get out of the hospital and the next day beat up a 6'+ biker and his girl friend, and carry a washer and dryer (the robbery stash) down a flight of stairs.
"AND the politician!!! suspended sentence?? it was a 4 YEAR OLD, good Lord! "
Beyond outrageous!!!!!
Fry em!
What is up with these lunatics?
I agree, if there is proof he did it, his being a minister does not matter.
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