TYLER (KYTX)-- Five of the 6 defendants in the alleged Mineola sex ring agreed to plea bargains
Thursday, and may be released from custody as soon as Friday. CBS 19's Michele Reese was in the courtroom and has more.
One by one, Sheila Sones, Jamie Pittman, Patrick Kelly, Shauntel Mayo, and Jimmy Sones admitted they forced to children to perform a sex act with each other at a club in Mineola in 2004.
As part of a plea deal, they pleaded guilty to injury to a child in the 241st District Court. They were sentenced to time already served, meaning they are not required to serve any more time. They have all been in jail for under 4 years.
Judge Jack Skeen choked up when he delivered the sentences. "The court finds it is in the best interest of these children, I hope they can put this behind them in some way, and be able to live the rest of their lives without having the fear of having to come back to courtroom again and testify what was done to them," Judge Skeen said. "Based on the best interest of these children...the court is going to accept the plea agreements."
Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham said the plea deal keeps the children from having to testify again.
The children have already testified four times in the trials for Jamie Pittman, Patrick Kelly, Shauntel Mayo, and Dennis Pittman. Jamie Pittman and Patrick Kelly's cases were overturned by the Appeals Court, citing errors made by the judge and the prosecutor. So they would have to be tried again. Mr. Bingham said he was worried Shauntel's case could be overturned too. He said this plea deal keeps the kids from reliving the horrors on the witness stand.
"Don't make any mistake I believe these defendants deserve life for what they did," he said. "The flip side of the coin is am I willing to make these kids go through this potentially 7 more times. I'm not. I'm making the decision I think is the right decision on behalf of the children."
Family members of the defendants hugged each other in court. Stacey Snodgrass, Shauntel Mayo's sister and Sheila Sone's daughter, was there to support them.
"I know they didn't live the best lives, but I don't think they're guilty of what they are charged of." Snodgrass said. "It's hard because I feel like they are pleading to something so they can go home."
One of the victims foster parents, Bruce Bookout, told the court he supports the plea deal too. He called it a 'blessing.' A blessing Mr. Bingham said keeps the child victims out of the courtroom, so they can finally move on with their lives.
"That's what we're hoping," Mr. Bookout said.
While the sentencing was going the Sones' civil lawyers relinquished their civil rights of their child who the Bookouts had taken in. This means the Bookouts can now adopt their foster child after 5 years.
Rebecca Pittman was also in court Thursday. She pleaded guilty to injury to a child. She admitted to holding down her daughter while Dennis Pittman raped her. She was sentenced to time served as well, which is three years and seven days.
Judge Jack Skeen said the six would be turned over to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for processing before their releases.
Dennis Pittman the 6th defendant in the Swingers Club cases, was not in court Thursday. He is serving a life sentence. His attorney had asked for an appeal.
CHILD SEX CASE TIMELINE
— November 2004: Child Protective Services begins investigating Shauntel Mayo and Jamie Pittman for allegations of drug abuse and child neglect.
— March 7, 2005: Two children are removed from Ms. Mayo and Pittman's home after the children make outcries of sexual abuse to their foster parents.
— November 2005: Texas Ranger Phillip Kemp began investigating the case and what took place at what he calls the "Mineola Swingers' Club."
— June 29, 2007: Dennis Pittman, Patrick "Booger Red" Kelly, Ms. Mayo, Jamie Pittman, Sheila Sones and Jimmie Sones are indicted by a Smith County grand jury on several charges of sexually abusing children, alleged to have been committed on Aug. 1, 2004.
— June and July, 2007: Kelly, Ms. Mayo, Jamie Pittman, Ms. Sones and Jimmie Sones are arrested in Smith County.
— July 25, 2007: Dennis Pittman is arrested in Tennessee.
— March 27, 2008: Jamie Pittman is sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicts him of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
— May 8, 2008: Shauntel Mayo is sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicts her of engaging in organized criminal activity. She was also convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison each on two counts of sexual performance by a child.
— Aug. 21, 2008: Kelly is sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicts him of engaging in organized criminal activity;
— June 17, 2010: The 14th Court of Appeals in Houston overturned the convictions and sentences of Jamie Pittman and Kelly, ordering new trials for both defendants. The court affirmed the conviction and modified the sentences of Ms. Mayo.
