NKY prosecutor about pardoning child rapist: 'How could any governor be this irresponsible'

Show Caption Hide Caption 'It's offensive': Commonwealth attorney comments on pardons Rob Sanders, Commonwealth attorney for Kentucky, got angry when asked about former Gov. Matt Bevin's pardons.

Kenton County's top prosecutor expressed disgust Thursday about some of former Gov. Matt Bevin's pardons as he exits office that included an Independence man convicted last year of raping a 9-year-old.

"I was somebody who supported him and believed in him and I'm disgusted at myself for having done so," said Rob Sanders, Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney about Bevin.

On his last day in office, Bevin pardoned Micah Schoettle, 41, who was convicted last year of raping a 9-year-old child in Kenton County and sentenced to 23 years in prison, the Courier-Journal reported.

Sanders said the pardon "shocks the conscience" and is "offensive."

"It's mindboggling how any governor could be this irresponsible," Sanders said. "It's an abomination of the criminal justice system."

Schoettle was convicted by a Kenton County jury of charges including rape and sexual abuse. He was sentenced July 24, 2018, by Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia M. Summe, according to prosecutors.

"It's a sad day for Kentucky, not just in the Micah Schoettle case, but in a number of different rape cases, child molesting cases, murder cases where the victims have all been done a grave injustice by our former governor," Sanders said.

Bevin issued 428 pardons and commutations from Election Day through the end of his term Monday, according to the Secretary of State's Office. There are few people among the pardoned who turned their life around and deserving of pardons, Sanders said.

Overall, "it's a shame," he said. Sanders called some of the pardons "horrible."

"Prosecutors all across Kentucky today are disgusted by Matt Bevin today, offended by Matt Bevin and rightfully so, and there are victims that have been victimized again all across Kentucky, it's just not right."

Sanders said Bevin acted without having prosecutors' or police files on Schoettle's case or asking prosecutors about the case. Sanders said he thinks Bevin relied on statements made by the defense when granting the pardon.

A Kenton County jury of 12 unanimously believed the testimony of a child over the defendant's testimony, Sanders said.

"So, what kind of message is our former governor sending to the citizens of Kentucky when he tells him that he doesn't believe a child," Sanders said. "God help the next child."

Schoettle will not have to register as a sex offender, Sanders said.

"It was a very difficult phone call for my assistant commonwealth attorney Maria Schletker made the call herself to the victim's mother, and God bless her for doing that," he said.

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Bevin wrote that Schoettle was convicted of a heinous crime "based only on testimony that was not supported by any physical evidence.”

He added that the case “was investigated and prosecuted in a manner that was sloppy at best. I do not believe that the charges against Mr. Schoettle are true.”

See who else was pardoned: Bevin pardons include convicted killer whose brother hosted campaign fundraiser for him

In a statement after the sentencing, the prosecutors' office said the victim testified at the trial and described how Schoettle sexually assaulted her and two medical experts also testified: Dr. Kathi Makoroff from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Dr. Stuart Bassman, who specializes in the psychology of sexual assault.

During the trial, Schoettle testified on his own behalf, according to prosecutors.

"(Schoettle) called numerous witnesses in an attempt to discredit the child victim," prosecutors said.

Sanders said he disagreed with Bevin commuting Gregory Wilson's death penalty sentence as well despite some irregularities in how the case developed.

Wilson was convicted more than 30 years ago of the abduction, rape, robbery and murder of Debbie Pooley, 36.

"I think Mr. Wilson is probably the most sadistic killer in the history of Kenton County and I think he was right where he deserved to be on death row," Sanders said.

"This irresponsible manipulation of the justice system is why the public’s confidence is constantly eroded," Sanders said. "No one from the Bevin administration gave any warning this was coming. If they had, we’d have shown them why these rapists and killers were behind bars to begin with."

The Courier-Journal contributed to this article.

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