Girl recounts molestation
Szakonyi, Mark. Advocate, May 1, 2007, pg. A1.
NEWARK -- A Newark man accused of molesting a then-12-year-old girl appeared unfazed in court Monday as the girl sobbed and described how he touched her breasts.
The girl, now 13, said Loren L. Nethers, 38, had touched her about every other day from about Thanksgiving 2005 to until mid-June 2006, when she was placed in foster care.
"I was scared," said the crying girl, who had to take a break in the middle of testimony to compose herself.
Nethers is charged with three counts of rape, four counts of sexual battery and eight counts of gross sexual imposition, according to court records.
The girl said the incidents of touching lasted a few seconds and mainly happened in her bedroom.
She said she tried to get away from him once and go to the bathroom, but he stopped her.
Nethers' attorney, Carl McCoy, asked her whether it was possible it seemed like every other day.
"I don't remember. I tried not to remember it," she answered.
Nethers originally was scheduled for sentencing Monday after he pleaded guilty to eight third-degree felony gross sexual imposition charges, but he said he didn't understand what he was doing.
McCoy said at the change of plea hearing Nethers didn't understand what was going on and answered the judge's questions because he was scared.
Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Jon Spahr allowed him to withdraw his plea and go forward with a trial.
Nethers was accused of engaging in sexual conduct with three girls when they were juveniles. One of the girls was 5 years old when the incidents allegedly started in 1994.
Nethers had admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with a girl between Nov. 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006, when the girl was 12.
Seven charges, including three rape and four sexual battery, were scheduled to be dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea to the others because the other two victims didn't want to testify.
The negotiated plea, Licking County Assistant Prosecutor Dan Huston said, shows Nethers knew what was happening.
Huston said he was worried about victimizing a teenage girl for the third time -- at the offense, the legal process the first time and the legal process the second time.
Huston said previously the other victims were guilted into not testifying because Nethers claimed he would kill himself if sentenced to prison. - WHAT A SELFISH, PATHETIC MAN
Nethers was arrested Oct. 16 after a Licking County Sheriff's Office investigation.
Huston said he expected the case would last until Wednesday.
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