WEDNESDAY December 18, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 75 cents Cartersville man sentenced SHOP WITH A HERO to 10 years in prison for Local public safety and military personnel help 2018 child molestation JAMES SWIFT 280 Bartow kids have a merry Christmas [email protected] A convicted sex offender was BY DONNA HARRIS sentenced to 30 years in Bartow [email protected] Superior Court Tuesday morn- ing after entering a negotiated A group of Bartow County kids plea of guilty to three counts of in need got to see the softer side of child molestation. some people whose occupations Cherokee Judicial Circuit require them to be tough. Judge D. Scott Smith sentenced Local public safety and military Renol Andrew Prince, 36, to personnel from several agencies 20 years — with the fi rst 10 to helped about 280 less-fortunate serve in prison and the remain- Prince Bartow County and Cartersville der on probation — on the fi rst City elementary school students child molestation count. The “The victim in this case is have a merrier Christmas by vol- defendant received an identical, the 10-year-old niece of Mr. unteering for the 12th annual concurrent sentence for the sec- Prince,” said Cherokee Judicial Shop with a Hero Saturday. ond count, with the third child Circuit Assistant District At- Representatives from the Bar- molestation count resulting in a torney Jana W. Allen. “During tow County Sheriff’s Offi ce; Car- consecutive 10-year probation a course of approximately two tersville, Emerson and White po- sentence. months or so, between Hallow- lice departments; Bartow County Prince was initially indict- een and Christmas 2018, he and Cartersville fi re departments; ed on one count of aggravated touched his niece inappropriate- Bartow County Campus Police; sexual battery, three counts of ly — she said it was an ongoing Georgia Bureau of Investigation; child molestation and one count thing, it was not just a one-time Homeland Security; Metro Am- of attempt to commit child mo- incident.” bulance; Cherokee County Sher- lestation. Prosecutors ultimately Allen said the defendant made iff’s Offi ce; Dallas Police Depart- agreed to drop the fi rst and last contact with the child’s genitals ment; and the Army, Air Force counts as part of the negotiated and chest. During interviews and Army National Guard spent sentence. with investigators, Allen said a few hours shopping at the Car- If found guilty of all fi ve the victim also accused the de- tersville Walmart with kids who counts he was initially charged fendant of making her touch his wouldn’t have much under the tree with, Judge Smith told Prince he genital area. on Christmas morning. faced a maximum sentence of “Everyone who works in a fi eld life plus 70 years. SEE SENTENCE, PAGE 5A such as public safety, military, nursing, schools, etc. all want to help children and their families,” said BCSO Lt. Megan Kincer, who coordinates the event each Judge sets bond at $500K for year with investigator Hollie McKamey. “This is a day where we all get to come together as a Aragon man accused of rape group and make a solid impact while having fun.” JAMES SWIFT fender James Champlin. The special day began bright [email protected] According to Cherokee Judicial and early at the Clarence Brown Circuit Assistant District Attor- Conference Center on Highway Cherokee Judicial Circuit Judge ney Elizabeth York, the alleged 20 in Cartersville, where fami- D. Scott Smith set bond at half a victim in the case is Padgett’s lies registered and enjoyed a hot million dollars for an Aragon daughter. breakfast. Each child received a man facing charges of rape and “The defendant had prior crim- book and was able to talk with incest in Bartow Superior Court inal history including prior arrests Santa and Mrs. Claus. Tuesday morning. for criminal statutory rape, along The kids, who were chosen by Defendant Bobby Dean with child molestation charges the local schools, also were eligible Padgett, 52, is also accused of that had been pending,” she said. to win several raffl e prizes, includ- committing one count of aggra- “I’ve expedited the DNA test on ing two bikes donated by Walmart, vated assault and one count of the rape kit, it’s going to be Janu- 20 family four-packs to Tellus Sci- family violence battery, accord- ary before I’m going to be able to ence Museum and the grand-prize ing to Bartow County Sheriff’s get the fi nal test back.” honor of being the grand marshal Offi ce (BCSO) records. Smith ordered the defendant, if of the parade to Walmart. “Mr. Padgett is a multiple-time released on bond, to refrain from After breakfast, the students convicted felon, he is a convict- having any contact with the al- loaded the buses for a full police, ed sex offender, he is out on a leged victim in the case, nor any- fi re and EMS escort — led by the pending charge for a sex offense one under the age of 18. grand marshal, who was operating and [allegedly] committed an ex- Champlin noted that the accus- the lights and sirens in the lead ve- tremely serious case here,” Judge er in the case is an adult, adding hicle — from the conference cen- Smith said. “The court thinks that he does not believe Padgett to ter through town to their shopping RANDY PARKER/DTN $500,000 is reasonable under be a fl ight risk. destination. Above, Cpl. these circumstances.” York, however, said the State Once they arrived, the kids Justin Lusian of Online registries for both Bar- has many concerns about the de- were paired up with a hero to the Cartersville tow County and Polk County, fendant. guide them through their shop- Police Depart- however, do not list Padgett as a “Aside from the sexual charges, ping adventure. ment gives a convicted sex offender. Nor is the he has 20 cycles with felony con- ride on his shop- Students were allotted $150 ping cart to two defendant listed on the Georgia victions going all the way back each to spend — $100 on clothes young shoppers Bureau of Investigation’s state- to 1990, when he had an arson for them and $50 on anything they at Saturday’s wide sex offender registry. conviction,” she said. “While wanted, according to Kincer. Shop with a Smith previously heard a mo- he might have ties to the area, I “All children bought the re- Hero event at tion to set bond for Padgett on believe it’s more Polk County, in quired amount of clothing,” she Walmart. Left, Nov. 12. While the request was that area. He was staying at a mo- said. “Many fi nished out getting a Lt. Matthew Beal denied at that time, 90 days have tel/hotel-type place here when he few toys; some spent all the mon- of the Bartow now passed since the defendant was arrested on these charges.” ey on clothes; and several spent County Sheriff’s was fi rst booked into the local jail. According to BCSO data, the remainder on groceries.” Offi ce watches a “His history is certainly rocky, Padgett has been held in pretrial young shopper select a toy. but he does have a right to a rea- detention at the local jail since SEE HEROES, PAGE 5A sonable bond,” said public de- Sept. 11, 2019. Circle of Advancement’s Toy Drive Mixer RANDY PARKER/DTN Circle of Advancement returns Saturday to Cartersville Civic Center President Todd Dean checks BY MARIE NESMITH said. “We started this as undergrad it’s our Summer Sendoff Backpack “I encourage the community out one of the [email protected] students from the same town with Drive, Dean-Hill After School Pro- to come support a cause that will toys that was an idea to help families in need for gram for our kids in Ombudsman or put a smile on children’s faces this donated to his Bearing the slogan “Bring a toy the holidays. This event opened our the Toy Drive Mixer. We want to let holiday season, because it’s been organization’s and share the joy,” The Circle of eyes, and after year two we knew the parents and kids know we have a tough year for the kids in Bar- toy drive. Dean Advancement’s Toy Drive Mixer we had to do more in our commu- your back. We’ve identifi ed our di- tow County,” Dean said. “I’ve seen encourages the will be presented Saturday. On- nity and we formed COA right after. vine gift and use it to serve people.” kids in our community face losing public to bring donated toys going from 4 to 7 p.m., the fourth “... I grew [up] with great parents, For Saturday’s complimentary friends to suicide, be forced out to the COA’s annual event will take place at the who made sure I had everything I event, COA representatives are urg- from a place they’ve called home all Toy Drive Mixer Cartersville Civic Center, 435 W. wanted Christmas morning. This ing area residents to donate toys, year, wrestle with drug abuse, raise Saturday at the Main St. isn’t the reality for everyone, the primarily for toddlers up to 12-year- and love their little brothers and sis- Cartersville “The toy drive has been around members of COA understand that olds. Last year, the community out- ters like they’re an adult. Civic Center. longer than The Circle of Advance- and we work to provide for our youth reach assisted between 60 to 65 ment,” COA President Todd Dean the best we can all year, whether children from 40 families.