Ronald Richard Taylor Guilty
Posted by: Webmaster in Band/Music, Elementary Schools, ME-MV, MichiganRonald Richard Taylor Jr., 39, of Grand Rapids, Michigan and a former music teacher at Martin Luther King Academy and Buchanan Elementary School has been convicted on 12 of 15 counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct against young boys.
At his trial over the past several days a parade of young boys testified about the alleged sexual abuse they experienced. The boys were between the ages of 5 and 10-years-old at the time of the alleged abuse.
The prosecution and witnesses contended that Taylor molested the boys at various places including at Buchanan Elementary School, Martin Luther King Learning Academy, Taylor’s home, a laser tag facility, while camping near Taylor’s parent’s home and even in church.
In addition to the children, other witnesses included a man facing murder charges who testified that Taylor talked openly about the alleged molestation after the two met earlier this year in a Bible study class at the Kent County Jail. The witness indicated “He said he’d like to do more things” and “He told me the kids wasn’t going to be believed because they were too young”.
Taylor himself took the witness stand last Friday and denied everything, contending that he did nothing wrong with any of the boys and basically said that they were all being untruthful in their accusations against him. Taylor on the witness stand portrayed himself as a mentor of kids who are having trouble and a person that helps them to become well-rounded men.
Defense attorney Fil Iorio said his client is the victim of overzealous school officials, media hype and hysterical family members. Additionally Iorio questioned the competency of the children who testified and their ability to tell truth from fiction and, in one case, even to identify their alleged assailant in the courtroom.
Taylor is being held without bond pending sentencing on August 16th.
References:
Taylor guilty of molesting students
Teacher’s fate in sex trial in jury’s hands
Former teacher denies molesting kids
Teacher testifies in own defense in sex trial
More tough testimony expected in teacher molestation trial
Fellow inmate says Taylor bragged of molestation
Grand Rapids teacher faces CSC charges
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July 3rd, 2007 at 11:50 am
Men like Ronald Richard Taylor Jr. 39, of Grand Rapids, Michigan - who are suppose to be the role models for children, instead of sexually abusing them, need to be convicted and put in prison where they can’t get their hands on another child. And they need to be made to sign-up as a Registered Sex Offender for life.