RonMeroneyWatch

Victim Impact Statement about Ron Meroney

Below is the unaltered text of the victim impact statement that was apparently read during Meroney’s sentencing hearing, concerning Meroney's molestation of multiple children in a single family. Note: This document is graphic.



The original document can be viewed at:

files.wmctv.com/Meroney/meroney.doc



Thank you, your honor, for the use of your courtroom and your time. I am grateful for the opportunity to read a statement on the impact Ron Meroney's sexual perversion and molestation has had on me, and my brothers and sisters. I would also like to thank Detective Dolgos, Elizabeth Ireland, Davis Ruark, and Governor Bredesson of Tennessee, they helped make this day possible and I have been humbled by their conviction and compassion.
Like an alligator in a swamp whos massive jaws and sharp jagged teeth are hidden under the serene water and whose eyes continuously scan for prey, that's how I would describe Ron Meroney or "Uncle Ron." Except, instead of snatching small animals, this man snatches unsuspecting children. He puts on a smile and talks of Jesus and we come closer, hesitantly at first, but then trustingly. As soon as we get close enough the jaws clamp down and we are pulled down, struggling, into the dark depths of the muddy water. He takes us to the murky bottom holding tight until the entire struggle is out of us, until there is no light and no hope. He stole the natural sparkle from our eyes and left them dull. He took our spontaneous bursts of giggles and laughter and replaced them with silence. Our goofy grins were exchanged for blank expressions and the skipping and hopping became impossible due to the enormous boulder crudely strapped to our shoulders. Trust and joy became impossible. Then we would see this beast surrounded by smiling adults who would pat him on the back and tell him how great he was, while behind their backs he was working his way through all their children.
I was 4 years old. I was 4 years old. I had skinned my knee at a family gathering at my home. "Uncle Ron" volunteered to help clean it up and bandage it. He took me into the bathroom upstairs and stood me on top of our tall pink hamper. He told me to pull my pants down which I thought odd because I had shorts on, and my knee was completely exposed, but I thought "Well maybe they'll be in the way." Then he told me nonchalantly to pull my panties down. I didn't hesitate this time, I said "NO". He then raised his voice, put his face real close to mine and with an angry expression said it again, "Take your panties off!" Scared, I did as I was told. If anyone is having a hard time reconciling this man , with his easy smile and relaxed demeanor with the man I'm describing, I have a visual here that will help.(PHOTO) Please look at the eyes and you might get a hint of the side we saw as children.
So there I stood , back to the wall , high off the ground, my private area exposed, bleeding from the wound on my knee , my ankles loosely bound by my shorts, my parents just out of reach. When I thought it couldn't get any worse , he pulls his penis out and with his hand on it he put it on my private area. When my "Uncle" was done with me he told me I could pull up my panties. He became nice again and acted like nothing happened. I remember being so relieved at being allowed to pull up my panties. Just so relieved.
This man was constantly getting together with my family and a lot of families. These gatherings should have been fun. We'd get to see our cousins, run around in the backyard barefoot, Mom and Dad's rules were relaxed a little bit, because well , the whole family was together. There was good food, drinks, and everyone was in a good mood. The adults were talking and laughing so they didn't see you when you would sneak a second, or third, or even fourth cupcake. But the beast had been invited, and which one of us would he want that day?
You see, Ron was rotating through my whole family. I have 5 brothers and sisters, all have admitted their molestation, to each other and to our parents. My one sister recounts him taking her, my other sister and his own daughter into the shower with him on more than one occasion. He would use his fingers on their private areas, vaginally and rectally. SO,
Not only were they molested, but they had to watch each other be molested.
(photo)
My sister recalls once telling him she didn't want to get in the shower with him and used the excuse that the soap on his hands was burning inside her privates. He told her he wouldn't do that this time, but once inside the shower he did molest her and the other two again. She was 5,my other sister and his daughter were 3. But it doesn't stop with girls, Ron likes little boys too.
Over a period of years, he molested, my brothers. My one brother started remembering incidents at age 4. If it started earlier he does not know. When Detective Dolgos asked him how old he was when it stopped, my brother said I can't tell you an exact age, I can relate it only to where my head height was in relation to his penis, he thinks according to that it was age 10. My little brother finds it too painful to talk about. My littlest sister recalls her abuse when we all got together for a family photo at his house. He followed her into the bathroom and stuck his fingers in her vaginal area, and more specifically manipulted her clitoris.
(PHOTO) Here is the photo taken on the actual day it happened. She was 5. I have another sister who acknowledges her abuse, and apparently several adults even knew of hers. Formal charges were supposed to have been brought against him when he was charged in 1984 with a different victim, but relatives were too concerned about a family scandal and hushed it up. A letter written by another Uncle to me last May apologizing for his role in the cover up supports this. The Assistant State's attorney has a copy of that letter. It is my understanding that in 1984 Ron received probation before judgment for the horrendous acts he committed against one of my distant cousins. Those charges were child abuse, common law assault, rape in the second degree, second , third, and fourth degree sexual offenses and assault with intent. That victim was nine. Her father Mr. xxxxxxxx is in the courtroom today.
I have no doubt, your honor, we are but the tip of the iceberg. Since this was made public another girl has come forward. She wrote a lengthy and detailed note of her molestation that took place at his house. Believing her to be asleep, he molested her. This victim then tells of watching him reach over and molest his daughter, who actually was asleep. She also recalls hearing adult voices outside the bedroom door. So it seems Ron enjoyed raising the stakes by abusing children while his wife and the child's parents were in the next room.
He has also started destroying hard drives from computers. How do I know? My mother recently inherited my grandmother's computer and Ron approximately one month ago went to this dead woman's house and took the hard drive and delivered the shell of the computer to my mother. And yes he used my grandmother's computer, he use to live with her.
He has left a wide path of destruction, of broken spirits. Spiritual murder is what I call it. And to compound it he portrayed and continues to portray himself as a righteous Christian. This man is a licensed minister. So the one Supreme Being who could've comforted us, in whom we could've found rest and love in was taken from us .He took our Jesus. This man had one hand raised to God and the other on little children's genitals, in addition to his penis and mouth. We didn't want any part of a God who's representative was killing us inside. It's strange really that of all the scripture versus he's quoted over the years I don't recall him quoting Matthew18;6 "But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea." There is also "male and female He created them" Genesis 1:27. Do you have any idea of the psychological hell you put my brothers through? You are a wolf in sheep's clothing. You left me and the other children at the bottom of that swamp. Let me tell you what's at the bottom of that swamp Ron, since I had and continue to have a front row seat, I can tell you. Fear, distrust, powerlessness, insecurity and this is manifested through delayed maturity, drug addiction, alcoholism, promiscuity, broken relationships, compulsive behaviors, all the milestones one looks forward to in life are dampened. All of these things I've listed have infected my family and some of them continue to to this day. The only thing worse than being abused as a child, the only thing I can think of, is knowing the ones you love have been abused and watching day in and day out the suffering they are going through.
I reached the surface Ron, you didn't count on that, did you? You forgot about God's grace, His strong swift hand pulling me out of that swamp and tenderly setting me on solid ground.
You are 70. The clock is ticking. God is showing you mercy by giving you a chance to expiate your horrendous attacks against His children and their precious gift of innocence. I urge you to take advantage of it while you still have breath left in you. For while people may have been, and continue to ALLOW themselves to be fooled by you, God isn't , and His judgment is eternal.
Your father molested you, that's what you told the mother of one of your victims, Ms. xxxxxxxx. So, you knew first hand the effect it has on a child's spirit. You had a choice with what to do with that. YOU HAD A CHOICE. And you made one.
To my brother xxxxxx and my sister xxxxx, you both came forward also seeking justice, and my abuse overshadowed yours. I apologize for that. Know I stand up here for all of us, you two who came forward and our other siblings who for their own reasons weren't ready for this day. If God knows how many hairs are on are heads, you can be sure He knows how many children Ron has molested. He promises that every secret will be made known. You see Ron you've left a legacy, and a percentage of those children you molested might have chosen the path you did, they may, even as I speak, be molesting other children and those children might now be at an age where they might be molesting. You've made the world a more dangerous place for ALL of our children, and so have those who've covered for him.
So where do we stand now? Ron Meroney has been residing in a house in Florida where 5 minor children live, his grandchildren. We know that being related to Ron doesn't make you exempt from his perversion, any child will do. I know that as part of his plea agreement, he will not be allowed around children unsupervised. Your honor, I just ask that the supervision be by a third party and not a relative, as you can see they have turned a blind eye to his pedophilia for years and continue to up until this day. He is supposed to be going back to Tennessee. To the parents in that state I am passing the baton to you and your elected leaders. I have done all I can. Please protect the children.
Some people brought children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, He was angry and said to His disciples, "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." Then He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on each of them, and blessed them. Mark 10 13-16

posted by H. S. Daly @ 10:36 AM