Post by Shuftin on Jan 20, 2007 0:22:00 GMT -5
By Brad Zinn
STAUNTON — A former Nelson County deputy will experience law enforcement from a different perspective — behind bars — after pleading guilty Thursday in Augusta County Circuit Court to sex charges involving a 16-year-old girl.
In a plea agreement with the Commonwealth attorney's office, Jason E. Fretwell, 28, of Stuarts Draft, pleaded guilty to felony charges of taking indecent liberties with a child, use of electronic means to solicit sex from a child and crimes against nature involving consensual sodomy.
Fretwell entered an Alford plea, where he stipulated there was enough evidence for a conviction but denied guilt in the process. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to six months at Middle River Regional Jail. Fretwell also was placed on five years probation.
In early July of 2005 during a span of 10 days, Fretwell exposed his penis and engaged in oral sex with the teen at his Rankin Lane home, according to assistant prosecutor Thomas Knoll Jr. For five months until December 2005, Fretwell continued communicating with the child online through instant messaging, Knoll said, where he solicited sex from the girl. A family member of the girl discovered the instant messages, which Knoll said were written in code.
Judge Thomas H. Wood ordered Fretwell to report to jail at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The judge made Fretwell's timely arrival part of the terms of his probation. "I know you know better than to make a mess of this situation," Wood said. The brief reprieve from jail was part of the plea agreement.
Fretwell's guilty pleas averted a scheduled jury trial on Tuesday. He faced the possibility of 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges. The former deputy will be required to register as a sex offender.
Phone calls to Nelson County Sheriff Gary Brantley were not returned.
www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/NEWS01/701190345/1002
STAUNTON — A former Nelson County deputy will experience law enforcement from a different perspective — behind bars — after pleading guilty Thursday in Augusta County Circuit Court to sex charges involving a 16-year-old girl.
In a plea agreement with the Commonwealth attorney's office, Jason E. Fretwell, 28, of Stuarts Draft, pleaded guilty to felony charges of taking indecent liberties with a child, use of electronic means to solicit sex from a child and crimes against nature involving consensual sodomy.
Fretwell entered an Alford plea, where he stipulated there was enough evidence for a conviction but denied guilt in the process. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to six months at Middle River Regional Jail. Fretwell also was placed on five years probation.
In early July of 2005 during a span of 10 days, Fretwell exposed his penis and engaged in oral sex with the teen at his Rankin Lane home, according to assistant prosecutor Thomas Knoll Jr. For five months until December 2005, Fretwell continued communicating with the child online through instant messaging, Knoll said, where he solicited sex from the girl. A family member of the girl discovered the instant messages, which Knoll said were written in code.
Judge Thomas H. Wood ordered Fretwell to report to jail at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The judge made Fretwell's timely arrival part of the terms of his probation. "I know you know better than to make a mess of this situation," Wood said. The brief reprieve from jail was part of the plea agreement.
Fretwell's guilty pleas averted a scheduled jury trial on Tuesday. He faced the possibility of 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges. The former deputy will be required to register as a sex offender.
Phone calls to Nelson County Sheriff Gary Brantley were not returned.
www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/NEWS01/701190345/1002