A Shipman man was sentenced to six years in prison Monday after being found guilty on two counts of sexually assaulting a minor.
Nathan Ryan Wooten, 23, entered Alford pleas in Nelson Circuit Court on Monday. An Alford plea legally means he does not admit guilt but acknowledges evidence is enough for a conviction.
Wooten entered the pleas to one count each of aggravated sexual battery in court Monday before Judge Michael Doucette. Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Daniel Rutherford said the victim would have testified of the sexual abuse if the case had gone to trial.
The victim was younger than 14 when the offenses occurred, according to the indictments that say the offenses occurred between December 2022 and October 2023.
“All of the facts occurred here in Nelson County,” Rutherford said.
Rutherford said the victim’s family was consulted about the plea agreement and his office “reluctantly” went forward with it in the best interest of the victim.
After finding Wooten guilty of the two charges, Doucette sentenced him to 20 years in prison on the combined charges with all but six years suspended. Wooten was credited with time served to go toward the sentence.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office has said on its official Facebook page Wooten was arrested in late May.
Anthony Martin, Wooten’s attorney, told Doucette he advised the defendant the Alford pleas are in his own best interest and jury trials can be unpredictable. Martin said another recent case in Nelson Circuit Court with similar charges that proceeded to a jury resulted in a life sentence.
Another felony charge of object sexual penetration of a victim younger than 13 against Wooten was dropped Monday.
Wooten did not speak in court when given the opportunity before sentencing.
Doucette ordered that conditions of Wooten’s suspended sentence are to be on supervised probation for 18 months upon release, be on good behavior for 15 years and register as a sex offender. The judge also ruled Wooten is to have no contact with the victim or victim’s family members for the 15-year good behavior period.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com