Prosecutors confident in Turner sex case
No physical evidence, no problem, according to prosecutors who say the lack of a smoking gun in the Pamela Rogers Turner sex case had no impact in the plea offer made to her camp this week.
“We don’t have any physical evidence in 90 percent of the sex abuse cases we prosecute here,” said District Attorney General Dale Potter, noting his office has been very successful in putting sex offenders in jail despite that fact. “It’s rare when we are provided with scientific evidence in sexually based cases. Instead, it usually comes down to statements and witness testimony.”
Potter’s comments come after the plea or assignment date for the former Centertown teacher/coach was continued until July 27 so the defense can consider a plea agreement. While attorneys in the case are not commenting on the proposed term, sources say it includes one year in jail, forfeiture of teaching credentials and listing on the sex offender registry. Where such a term would be served is unknown and as to whether any probation is attached is also a mystery.
Turner faces 28 felony counts for sexual battery by an authority figure (carrying three to six years in prison) and statutory rape (carrying one to two years in prison) for an alleged two-month-long sexual affair with a 13-year-old male student. She has since resigned her post with Centertown and is living with her father in Clarkrange. She is free on $50,000 bond pending either a plea agreement or her Nov. 15 trial date. Contacting the victim in the case would force her to forfeit her bond and go to jail until trial.
As for the delay in the case, Potter said he felt it was only fair to the defense to allow them time to fully examine his offer given the fact he gave them the offer at a late date. The prosecutor admitted he had considered not issuing any settlement offer. The offer, Potter said, has been approved by the alleged victim’s family. The teen has returned to school after being on homebound learning for some time after the arrest of his teacher earlier this year.
As for not releasing the official terms of the plea agreement to the public, Potter said such discussions would be premature seeing the defense could still come back and counter offer.
“It’s still early,” Potter said. “They just got our terms so it’s way premature to assume anything.”