RAPID CITY (SD)
Rapid City Journal
By Vicky Wicks, Journal Staff Writer
RAPID CITY - Glenn Ford pleaded guilty to a third-degree rape charge in 7th Circuit Court on Friday, but because the judge allowed him to do so ahead of schedule, the victim and her mother were not able to hear Ford admit to the crime.
Ford, 39, charged for having sex with a 13-year-old girl while he was youth pastor at Victory Chapel on La Crosse Street, was scheduled to enter a plea at 10:45 a.m. Friday in front of 7th Circuit Judge Merton Tice Jr.
According to Pennington County deputy state's attorney Toni Williams, who was in the courtroom representing the state on other cases, Tice said he had other matters to attend to and would take Ford's plea ahead of schedule.
Lara Roetzel, chief deputy state's attorney, is the prosecutor on the case and had Ford's file with her. She arrived at the courtroom on time, but by then, the plea had been taken.
Roetzel then went into the empty courtroom to meet with the victim, the victim's mother and a few supporters.
At 11 a.m., other attorneys arrived for hearings in front of Tice.
Williams said Tice had not asked her for the victim's opinion of the plea agreement.
Posted by kshaw at January 15, 2005 09:19 AM