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	Meredith Officially Sentenced Monday By Tom Berry Meredith Ledger & Times November 15, 2011 http://murrayledger.com/news/meredith-officially-sentenced-monday/article_d15c38ae-0f94-11e1-9465-001cc4c002e0.html A former Calloway County pastor who has pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse of a child under 12 years old was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday morning in Calloway Circuit Court. Robert Meredith, 50, of Murray-Paris Road, pleaded guilty in September under terms of a plea agreement with Commonwealth's Attorney Mark Blankenship. Meredith was charged by Kentucky State Police in August following an investigation of a complaint from the parents of the juvenile victim who told police the abuse allegedly took place at a childrens' sleepover at a private residence where other adults and children were present. During his appearance Monday, Meredith apologized to his victim, the victim's family, his own family, the court and members of Green Plains Church of Christ, saying he was "ashamed, embarrassed and mortified" for the harm he had caused. Circuit Judge Dennis Foust additionally sentenced Meredith to five-years conditional discharge after his release from prison. As part of the agreement, Meredith must also register as a sex offender for 20 years after his release, participate in a sex offender treatment program and have no contact with the juvenile victim or the victim's family. He must also make restitution and must provide the state a DNA sample to be placed in permanent record. In other action, Indiana resident Brandon McManomy, 24, who had previously entered an Alford plea of guilty to two-counts of first-degree criminal abuse, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and violation of an out-of-state EPO/DVO in connection to the alleged sexual assualt of a female Murray State University student, sought to have his plea withdrawn and a trial scheduled. Attorneys for McManomy told Foust that McManomy had not been fully informed concerning how a previously-scheduled sentencing would run consecutively, not concurrently, should he be found guilty on a charge of an alleged attempted murder of a police officer in Indiana. Foust also heard arguments that McManomy has not seen reported video evidence related to the case nor was he aware of DNA evidence in his favor. Blankenship said he had been through lengthy discussions with McManomy's former counsel, Will Kautz of Paducah, concerning issues in the case and he characterized McManomy's request to withdraw his guilty plea as an "after-the-fact, second bite at the apple" effort that he opposed. Blankenship said there was previously no discussion concerning how McManomy's sentencing in Kentucky or Indiana might run. McManomy is currently scheduled to be sentenced to a total of 15 years under the local plea agreement. Foust said he would review the case and decide whether there were any issues to be explored or deny the motion and proceed with sentencing under the current agreement. Foust set McManomy's next court date tentatively for Dec. 12. Meanwhile, Murray attorney Gary Haverstock told the court that Clay Cornelison, 20, a Murray man charged with two-counts of third-degree burglary and receiving stolen property under $10,000 in connection to an alleged break-in at Debbie and Company Hair Salon on 12th Street in September, is currently in a rehabilitation program in Owensboro. Cornelison has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Haverstock said Cornelison is set to remain in the program for nine months. Blankenship said he had no objection to waiting until Cornelison has completed the program before proceeding with legal action with the exception of waiting on restitution to the victims. Discussions between Haverstock and Blankenship concerning details of the case continue. A status hearing was scheduled for Jan. 9, 2012. All individuals facing charges are innocent until proven guilty.
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