Former Crossville mayor, police chief sentenced for rape of 10-year-old

Former Crossville mayor, police chief sentenced for rape
6/24/2005, 5:37 p.m. CT
The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The former police chief and mayor of Crossville has received a 20-year sentence for the rape of a 10-year-old girl, Attorney General Troy King said Friday.

A DeKalb County jury convicted Ronald Dale West in March of first-degree rape, which occurred in December 1997 while he was police chief.

According to the Attorney General's office, West took the child to visit her great-grandfather in the hospital, stopped at a fast-food restaurant and then drove her around to look at Christmas lights. He then took the girl to a secluded back road and raped her, authorities said.

"The violation and pain he inflicted upon an innocent child must not be tolerated," King said Friday in a statement. "I hope that this verdict and the delivery of justice will bring some measure of comfort to the victim and her family."

Under the 20-year split sentence, West will serve five years in prison, during which he will be ineligible for parole, King said. He will then serve five years of probation with the remainder of the sentence suspended.
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Yes Attorney General King, I am sure that young girl and her family will feel much safer after the rapist cop spends 5 years in prison.

The average sentence for first degree felony marijuana possession in Alabama is 6 years and one month while the average sentence for child molestation is 5 years.

I don't know about y'all but, I would much rather have a non-child molesting pot smoker living next door to me and my kids than a child sex predator who hides behind his badge.

Even though Troy King might not admit it publicly I am sure he would feel the same.