RUSSELLVILLE — A Spruce Pine woman looked at Freddy Hovater on Monday morning and told him she never thought he could hurt her child.
“God will take care of this,” the woman told Hovater. “What gets me through this is knowing that you will have to answer to God one day.”
Hovater, 74, a former Franklin County pastor, pleaded guilty to charges he sexually abused the woman’s 8-year-old daughter in 2011. He pleaded guilty in March to child abuse and third-degree assault with sexual motivation.
On Monday morning, Franklin County Circuit Judge Terry Dempsey sentenced Hovater to 10 years, which was split with 18 months to serve on the child abuse charge and one year on the third-degree assault charge.
The two sentences are to be served concurrently.
Hovater, 110 Iris Lane, Spruce Pine, was a neighbor of the child and her family, as well as their landlord and, for a time, their pastor.
The girl’s mother said she trusted Hovater.
“You have put us through so much. I never thought you could do this to my child,” she said.
Hovater, who refused to say anything during the sentencing hearing and showed little remorse for the allegations, was handcuffed and taken out of the courthouse after the judge’s ruling.
Hovater was charged on indictments of first-degree sexual abuse, sexual torture of a child under 12, and enticing a child for immoral purposes. He was arrested Oct. 1, 2012, and indicted on the charges in March 2013.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said a plea agreement was reached after much discussion with the victim and her family.
“The family wanted him to spend time in prison — he is. They wanted him to register as a sex offender, and he will,” Rushing said. “They were pleased with the agreement.”
Child abuse is a Class C felony and is punishable by 1-10 years in prison. Third-degree assault with sexual motivation is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to a year in jail.
Investigators said Hovater is accused of using a sexual toy and another item to abuse the girl. He also is accused of sitting in the bathroom watching the child take a bath. Authorities said apparently the abuse had been occurring at least a year at Hovater’s house when the child would visit.
The victim, now 12, was in the courtroom with her family during the sentencing.
“This has hit them hard,” Rushing said. “(Hovater) was someone they knew well and trusted.”
He said the victim’s mother had known Hovater for years, and attended church where he preached for some time.
“I know they are glad to get this behind them and, hopefully, they can move on with their lives,” Rushing said.