jhofficial
11-10-2006, 12:53 AM
By Erin Rickert (erickert@coxnc.com)
The Daily Reflector
Friday, November 10, 2006
John Robert Spence, the former farm reporter of WNCT-TV, pleaded guilty in Pitt County Superior Court Thursday afternoon to charges he improperly touched and sent pornographic e-mails to his great nephew.
Spence's plea to six counts taking indecent liberties with a minor, part of an agreement with the Pitt County District Attorney's Office, came more than a year after his 2005 arrest by the State Bureau of Investigation.
Clutching a cane in one hand, the hard-of-hearing 74-year-old stood next to the bench as he strained to hear Superior Court Judge Donald Jacobs issue his sentence: three years supervised probation, six months of which should be served as intensive probation.
Spence could face a minimum of 13 months and a maximum of 1 year, four months in the North Carolina Department of Correction if he violates any terms of his probation. This includes registering as a sex offender and cutting off contact with his great nephew or any other minor children at his Ayden home.
Spence's cousin Delsie Jenkins did not agree with the sentence.
"He is wrongly accused," Jenkins said outside the courtroom Thursday. "He has done nothing in his life but good. There is no way he is capable of these acts. I will go to my grave knowing in my heart he's innocent."
Jenkins and Bonita Henderson, another of Spence's relatives, each said they had pleasant memories of time spent alone as youth in Spence's home. Both women said they believed the allegations stemmed from a money dispute between Spence and the father of the victim.
Prosecutor Lee Teague drew on statements Spence made to investigators, calling them"very similar"to the 15-year-old victim's accounts of what happened.
Teague detailed in court that Spence showed his great nephew explicit pictures, books and touched him inappropriately while the great nephew was at Spence's home. Teague also shared portions of a letter the teen's mother asked be read detailing her disgust with the acts both her son and daughter said Spence and his roommate committed in the early part of 2005.
"My children will never get their innocence back as it is gone forever," Teague read from the letter. "They have to pay the rest of their lives."
The SBI arrested Spence and roommate Asa Spain, both of 4117 New Circle Drive in Ayden, on Aug. 24, 2005, following more than a monthlong probe by investigators after the children's parents brought allegations against the two.
Spain, who faces one-count taking indecent liberties with a minor for his alleged actions with the sister of Spence's great nephew, is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 4.
Spence spent about 33 years with WNCT-TV Channel 9, reporting on agricultural news. He co-hosted a local early morning talk and news show, and for many years produced a special news show featuring coverage of the opening of local tobacco markets. Family said he retired from the news station in 2000.
Erin Rickert can be contacted at erickert@coxnc.com and 329-9566.
The Daily Reflector
Friday, November 10, 2006
John Robert Spence, the former farm reporter of WNCT-TV, pleaded guilty in Pitt County Superior Court Thursday afternoon to charges he improperly touched and sent pornographic e-mails to his great nephew.
Spence's plea to six counts taking indecent liberties with a minor, part of an agreement with the Pitt County District Attorney's Office, came more than a year after his 2005 arrest by the State Bureau of Investigation.
Clutching a cane in one hand, the hard-of-hearing 74-year-old stood next to the bench as he strained to hear Superior Court Judge Donald Jacobs issue his sentence: three years supervised probation, six months of which should be served as intensive probation.
Spence could face a minimum of 13 months and a maximum of 1 year, four months in the North Carolina Department of Correction if he violates any terms of his probation. This includes registering as a sex offender and cutting off contact with his great nephew or any other minor children at his Ayden home.
Spence's cousin Delsie Jenkins did not agree with the sentence.
"He is wrongly accused," Jenkins said outside the courtroom Thursday. "He has done nothing in his life but good. There is no way he is capable of these acts. I will go to my grave knowing in my heart he's innocent."
Jenkins and Bonita Henderson, another of Spence's relatives, each said they had pleasant memories of time spent alone as youth in Spence's home. Both women said they believed the allegations stemmed from a money dispute between Spence and the father of the victim.
Prosecutor Lee Teague drew on statements Spence made to investigators, calling them"very similar"to the 15-year-old victim's accounts of what happened.
Teague detailed in court that Spence showed his great nephew explicit pictures, books and touched him inappropriately while the great nephew was at Spence's home. Teague also shared portions of a letter the teen's mother asked be read detailing her disgust with the acts both her son and daughter said Spence and his roommate committed in the early part of 2005.
"My children will never get their innocence back as it is gone forever," Teague read from the letter. "They have to pay the rest of their lives."
The SBI arrested Spence and roommate Asa Spain, both of 4117 New Circle Drive in Ayden, on Aug. 24, 2005, following more than a monthlong probe by investigators after the children's parents brought allegations against the two.
Spain, who faces one-count taking indecent liberties with a minor for his alleged actions with the sister of Spence's great nephew, is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 4.
Spence spent about 33 years with WNCT-TV Channel 9, reporting on agricultural news. He co-hosted a local early morning talk and news show, and for many years produced a special news show featuring coverage of the opening of local tobacco markets. Family said he retired from the news station in 2000.
Erin Rickert can be contacted at erickert@coxnc.com and 329-9566.