OKLAHOMA
Fox 23
Hector Mejia
Updated: Nov 10, 2016
A jury has reached a verdict in the trial of a man accused of sexual abuse while working as a youth mentor through a local church.
They found Timothy Cato guilty of 11 counts of child sex abuse. They found him not guilty in one count of child sex abuse and one count of possession of child pornography.
The jury recommended 215 years in prison.
During closing arguments, Cato’s defense said the state demonized him by painting him as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” They said that he should be punished for only one count, but given the chance for redemption.
However, prosecutors said Cato built his reputation as a caretaker and church youth mentor to prey on children, who were either from a shelter or didn’t have a father figure. They claimed Cato groomed the five boys to believe it was okay for him to watch them shower and later cuddle with them during sleepovers.
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