Four Decades Only the Beginning for Ridings
Prosecutor says convicted rapist now must face his state chargesBy FRED CONNORS
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WHEELING - The 40-year sentence Joshua Ridings received Monday on federal charges for the abduction and rape of a North Wheeling girl may be just the beginning of his punishment, as Ohio County Prosecutor Scott Smith said he could answer to state charges for the same crimes within a week.
U.S. Attorney Sharon Potter said she is pleased with Ridings' sentence of 40 years in prison - and strict supervision if he should ever be released - for the Feb. 20, 2007, kidnapping and sexual assault of the 11-year-old girl.
But Smith said it could be as little as a week before Ridings appears in court to answer state charges of kidnapping, five counts of sexual assault in the first degree and five counts of sexaul assault in the second degree.
Smith believes Circuit Judge James Mazzone has been assigned the state-level case.
Ridings, 29, of Owensboro, Ky., appeared in federal court Monday for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Frederick Stamp after pleading guilty on Oct. 15 to federal charges related to the abduction and rape of the child. He admitted taking her from Wheeling across state lines to Belmont County, where he sexually assaulted her on the grounds of a church near St. Clairsville before returning her to a Bridgeport neighborhood.
In addition to the jail time, Stamp imposed rigid conditions for supervised release in the event Ridings is released after 40 years.
On Monday, Stamp ordered Ridings to participate in prison mental health programs for treatment and medication if necessary and to participate in an sexual offender programs available.
In the event of his release, Ridings will be supervised for life and must submit to lie detector tests and unannounced searches by probation authorities.
He also can never live in the same residence with a child under the age of 18 years and never visit schools, day care centers, playgrounds or any other place where children may be present.
Prior to imposing the sentence, Stamp listened to victim impact statements from two people. The statements were made in the judge's conference room and attended only by the victims, attorneys and Ridings.
The victim made a statement, as did another victim from a pending, out-of state case involving Ridings.
Stamp said the 480-month sentence is the result of a binding plea agreement between U.S. Attorney Sharon Potter's office and court-appointed defense attorney Brendan Leary. The judge said federal sentencing guidelines, under a non-binding plea agreement, called for a sentence of 360 to 405 months.
Members of Ridings' family attended the sentencing hearing but quickly left the courtroom when it was over.
The Wheeling girl's mother reacted by saying simply: "Justice was done."
Potter said, "We are appreciative of the court's consideration of all of the issues addressed by the parties in reaching this plea agreement, especially those related to the young victim in the case. Since there is no parole in the federal system, Mr. Ridings will serve 40 years and could be subject to further evaluations at the completion of his sentence in the interest of public safety. As the court noted, this 40-year sentence is significantly above the range of incarceration set forth in the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The terms of his plea agreement also encompassed his complete debriefings of other crimes he has committed and waived all appellate rights. That debriefing allowed cases in other jurisdictions to be resolved, and those victims were afforded their day in court here.
"This investigation truly represents a joint effort by federal, state and local law enforcement, who never stopped working toward resolution," she added. "We especially thank Owensboro Police Department Detective Troy Gossett's recognition of the national release and sketches that led our investigators to this defendant."
The case was prosecuted by Potter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard.
It was investigated by the Wheeling Police Department, the FBI, law enforcement agencies in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana and involved leads from concerned citizens.
Staff Writer Shelley Hanson contributed to this report.
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Palmer
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01-13-09 5:43 PM
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I also thank god everyday that he at least had the dececy to let her go. He still should rot in prison though as he is one sick SOB
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Palmer
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01-13-09 5:40 PM
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I pray everyday that this little girl can overcome this and that this SOB lives with a constant reminder of what he did to her.
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ConservativeKaty
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01-13-09 2:43 PM
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Mr. Bass, I agree with you, and especially thank you for not talking about farm animals as you often do. The only change I would make is that he be castrated at the beginning of his life sentence and not at the end of it.
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Rockledge
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01-13-09 11:14 AM
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Forty years of having to watch your back in prison in exchange for 40 minutes of creepiness --- hope that makes the rest of the creeps think twice.
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