Molester receives life imprisonment

Molester receives life imprisonment

by Sonja Garza

April 12, 1994 - Beaumont Enterprise

A judge Monday handed a life sentence to a Beaumont man officials described as "the worst pedophile" they have encountered after he admitted molesting an 8-year-old girl during church services.

Criminal District Judge Larry Gist sentenced Ralph E. Neeley, a former member of a Mormon church in west Beaumont, to the maximum prison term.

Before pronouncing sentence, Gist chastised Neeley, saying his was the worst case of child molestation he has seen.

"You are what every parent fears," Gist said. "You are the guy that jumps out of the bushes. You are the guy that takes advantage of people's trust -- especially at church."

At one point, Neeley, 44, collapsed in the courtroom. Officials took him to the jury room to recover. They later brought him back before the judge for sentencing.

Neeley, who has been excommunicated from the church, pleaded guilty on Jan. 10 to a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Court documents allege a church member saw Neeley molesting the child and reported him to a church official.

Neeley called Beaumont police Sgt. Bill Davis on July 21 to report he had sexually assaulted a child, Davis stated in a probable cause affidavit.

On July 22, Neeley told Davis he had been "having an affair" with a child he had befriended at church, according to court documents. The sexual molestation lasted from October 1992 until May 1993.

Court documents allege Neeley would fondle the child under his coat as she sat on his lap in a church pew.

Neeley also admitted to performing sexual acts with the girl in unoccupied rooms of the church at the Jefferson County Airport and at his apartment, court documents allege.

On one occasion, Neeley went to the girl's bedroom window and shone a flashlight in on her, court documents allege.

Davis' affidavit also states Neeley said he sometimes followed the child's parents when they took her to school. He then would take her from the school, drive her to another location and perform sexual acts on her, then return her to class before the tardy bell rang, court documents allege.

According to a pre-sentence investigation report, Neeley also admitted having sexual contact with a child in Arkansas 20 years ago. Court records also show that a charge of indecent exposure filed against Neeley was dismissed in February 1990.

Gist said Neeley had a virtually uninterrupted pattern of deviant sexual behavior for 20 years, and only stopped when he got caught.

Neeley's attorney had recommended that he receive 10 years deferred probation and attend a sex offender program.

Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Wayln Thompson recommended the maximum sentence. Neeley will become eligible for parole in 15 years.

Davis, who described Neeley as the worst pedophile he has investigated in his 22 years as a police officer, said the life sentence was well-suited to the crime.

"This is something she will have to deal with the rest of her life," Davis said. "It's most appropriate that he be incarcerated the rest of his life, not for one child's sake, but for all the children he might have come in contact with were he a free man."

Neeley also is a defendant in a pending civil lawsuit the girl's mother filed against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The suit contends church leaders did not report the incident to police or to the girl's parents.

Church leaders say they encouraged Neeley to go to police or the church would report him. They also say they cooperated with police during their investigation.

Clay Dugas, attorney for the girl's family, said the case is scheduled for trial Aug. 8.