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
BIO: Meroney spent 12 years at WMAR/TV2 in Baltimore
This bio appeared on the FOX13/WHBQ site
RON MERONEY
Ron Meroney rejoined the FOX 13 team in November of 1995 after spending more than three years as an anchor at WCPX-TX in Orlando, Florida and eleven years at WMAR-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. Ron is a veteran broadcaster, having worked in numerous markets, in a number of different capacities. In addition to news anchoring, he has served as talk show host, weather anchor, radio disc jockey and station manager at WCIE-FM in Lakeland, Florida. Ron's true claim to fame may come from being able to say he is the one who replaced Memphis legend Wink Martindale on WHBQ-TV's "Dance party" in the early 1960's. Ron is a licensed minister and is extremely involved in local charitable organizations including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, senior citizen homes, The Kidney Foundation, and United Cerebral Palsy.
Info. on Meroney's involvement with Assembly of God Christian church/es
This info. appeared on crimewriter Steve Huff's extensive crimeblog, here:
http://huffcrimeblog.com/?p=579
Charles Henderson Says:
May 22nd, 2006 at 10:45 pm
I knew Ron Meroney in Memphis. I have been in his and Carol’s home many times and they in mine. We attended a home fellowship meeting every Saturday night for several years and also attended Cathedral Of Praise Assembly of God in Memphis where Ron and Carol had a Sunday school class. I do not believe the man I know could have ever done what he is accused of. Ron and Carol are very dedicated to Jesus, not just to a religion. To Ron, serving God is a matter of the heart, not the head, or association with a church. He is a very meek, gentleman, with a sincere sense of devotion. He never spoke ill of anyone and was genuinely concern for every one. He is a hard worker, getting up at 2 A. M. everyday to go to the station and re-write all the news that he covers. As an anchor for Fox in Memphis, he has often been instrumental in getting programs of faith put on a very secular channel. Whatever has happened to Ron, has to stem from someone trying to malign him for jealousy or grudes from his political campaign in Maryland years ago.
Debbie Bennett Says:
May 23rd, 2006 at 10:33 am
I have similar experiences to Mr. Henderson’s. My parents were involved in Amway with Ron and Carol, as well as many church functions. Ron and Carol love the Lord and love to serve him. When my family was down due to my dad’s alcoholism, Ron and Carol offered help in the way of prayer, and just listening. Ron emceed my wedding. When my mom attended an Amway meeting with Ron and Carol in Pennsylvania, unbeknownst to my mom, he arranged for her to take a tour through her childhood home, as it was up for sale. She broke down in tears at the kindness of this man. Like Mr. Henderson said, he would never speak ill of anyone, but always would encourage those he knew. I agree that this is a malignment of some sort, or a grudge from a family member.
amanda Says:
June 3rd, 2006 at 5:45 pm
I believe every word of the women accusing MR. I was warned about him when I was just 7 years old. I was watched at every funtioned very closely if Ron attended. People say he is kind and giving and not a monster. Well that is true would a child trust a nasty old monster or a sweet let me give you a ride on the pony at the farm kind of guy?
Meroney articles from Commercial Appeal and East High news site
TV anchor charged in child statutory rape
From The Commercial Appeal, May 3, 2006
By Lawrence Buser
May 3, 2006
"Good Morning Memphis" anchor Ron Meroney was arrested this afternoon on a warrant from Maryland charging him with statutory rape of a child under 14, authorities said.
Meroney, 69, was arrested without incident at his home by agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shortly before 4 p.m., according to spokesman Jennifer Johnson.
He was taken to the Shelby County Jail and will appear in General Sessions Criminal Court as early as Thursday to face extradition.
Meroney was indicted in December by a grand jury in Wicomico County in southeastern Maryland where the county seat is Salisbury.
The indictment was sealed, according to the arrest warrant, and prosecutors there could not be reached late today.
According to a FOX 13 Web site, Meroney’s career has spanned five decades. He has been in Memphis since at least 1998. In the late 1950s, he replaced TV legend Wink Martindale on Channel 13’s "Top Ten Dance Party." He has since worked in a number of markets throughout the country in both radio and television.
Meroney lived in Maryland from 1972-85 and also has lived in Florida, according to an online public records data base.
Additional stories on this subject are below.
Charges against Fox anchor date from 1974
From The Commercial Appeal, May 5, 2006
By Lawrence Buser
May 5, 2006
Fox 13 anchor Ron Meroney was released Thursday on $50,000 bond after his arrest on statutory rape charges filed against him in Maryland.
The indictment stems from an alleged incident with a child under age 14 more than 30 years ago, according to authorities in Wicomico County, where Meroney faced similar charges in 1984.
Meroney, 69, made a brief appearance in General Sessions Criminal Court and will return to court May 16. In the meantime, he may surrender to Maryland authorities, seek a bond there and begin his defense.
"Ron denies the charges and is anxious to go up there (to Maryland) to retain a lawyer and fight the charges," said his local attorney Mark Mesler, who described his client's mood as "upbeat." "He's trying to make his arrangements."
Meroney, host of "Good Morning Memphis," is accused of having sex with a child under 14 between June and October of 1974. Maryland authorities would not comment on why the charges were filed only now.
Despite the long passage of time involved, the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center "thoroughly investigated the case," said Maryland State Police Cpl. Ryan Pradon of Salisbury, the seat of Wicomico County.
Statutory rape carries up to 20 years in prison.
WHBQ-TV Fox 13 General Manager John Koski said the station became aware of Meroney's indictment when he was arrested Wednesday. He said Ernie Freeman began substituting for Meroney Thursday, but otherwise declined to discuss his status.
It's not the first time Meroney has had legal troubles in Maryland, where he lived and worked from 1972 to 1985.
According to court records in Towson, which is near Baltimore, seven criminal charges were filed against Meroney in July 1984 that included child sexual abuse, assault and rape.
All were dismissed a month later with the exception of a charge of third-degree sexual offense in which he was given probation before judgment, a resolution in which a defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty but with the final judgment technically suspended. The case can be expunged after a specified period of good behavior.
Third-degree sexual offense involves someone at least age 21 who engages in a sexual act with someone age 14 or 15.
Meroney has been at Fox 13 since December 1995 after running a radio station near St. Petersburg, Fla., that played pop-style Christian music. In the late 1950s, he replaced well-known TV personality Wink Martindale on Channel 13's "Top Ten Dance Party."
Additional stories on this subject are below.
Letter alleges greater claims against Meroney
From www.wmctv.com
May 12, 2006 08:53 AM
The Memphis newsman charged with raping a child is facing even harsher allegations by his accuser. Now, he awaits a trial date in Maryland.
The mystery surrounding this charge is no clearer today than it was a week ago. But this letter, which led to Meroney's arraignment here, makes much stronger allegations than even the grand jury in Baltimore.
The letter, obtained by Action News Five, alerted Governor Bredesen to Meroney's presence in Memphis. Written by a woman who calls him her quote "uncle," Meroney's accuser says, this man has many victims, including my five brothers and sisters," and "please do what you can to expedite his extradition and to protect the children of Memphis."
"I am sure he is heavily involved in his Church as he was while he was molesting all of us. Please warn the people of his church," the letter continues.
At Meroney's church, the pastor expressed support for Meroney and his family. And - according to the general manager at FOX 13 - Meroney is still on staff, although the company will not discuss details of the charge against him.
An internet search pulled up this blog, purportedly written by a Fox13 employee who called Meroney "kind, generous, and professional" and "one of the elder statesmen in the newsroom."
The employee wrote, "this morning I looked over at his desk, where pictures of his smiling family are proudly displayed. I can't even imagine what they're going through."
Again, Meroney only faces one charge of statutory rape in Maryland. To our knowledge he has not been charged for the incidents mentioned in that letter. We tried to reach Meroney and his lawyer for comment, but were unable to do so.
Additional stories on this subject are below.
Meroney's lawyer questions prosecution
From www.wmctv.com
May 12, 2006 05:43 PM
Meroney Investigation: Darrell Phillips
Meroney's lawyers are talking to prosecutors in Maryland today, trying to figure out exactly how serious they are about going to trial before Meroney heads back to the state to surrender himself.
Memphis TV news anchor Ron Meroney's lawyers say that until an angry accuser sent her warning letter to Governor Phil Bredesen, it wasn't clear that Maryland prosecutors had any interest in extraditing or trying him on the three-decade old rape charge.
"One of the things that I think the lawyer up there was going to try to find out was... Does Maryland really want to prosecute this case?" said Mark Mesler by phone.
"I'll tell you that when we first heard there may be allegations like this, one of the things we were advised is Maryland was not going to extradite him."
So Meroney waited, knowing - Mesler says - that to return to Maryland meant he would have to surrender himself over to authorities instantly. Maryland prosecutors tell us Meroney still has not turned himself in and that they are working on a Governor's warrant in the event that extradition proceedings begin and Meroney resists. Meroney's lawyer tells us that won't happen. And the lawyer takes offense to the letter, written by Meroney's accuser, making allegations that "this man has many victims, including my five brothers and sisters."
"You would assume that the authorities would have contacted these other alleged victims because I am certain that she would have brought their names up to them when this investigation started and I am assuming that they wanted no part of coming forward if anything in fact happened," says Mesler.
Ron Meroney - he says - adamantly denies all of the charges. We've been emailing with the Maryland prosecutor who is bringing these charges. When asked about Mark Mesler's claim, that it wasn't clear that they were necessarily interested in moving forward with Meroney's extradition, Wicomico County D.A. Davis Ruark wrote that he won't engage in a public dialogue over this.
Salisbury, MD news story with reference to Meroney at WMAR/2 in Baltimore
Memphis Anchor Returns To MD To Face 1974 Rape Charge -
7/14 -
From the Salisbury Daily Times:
A Memphis television anchor indicted last year for statutory rape was officially charged in Maryland Thursday. Ronald Meroney (right), 69, of Arlington, Tennessee, turned himself into the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office for one count of statutory rape dating back to 1974. He had been indicted by a Wicomico County grand jury in late 2005. Meroney - who lived in Maryland in the 1970s and 1980s and worked at Baltimore's Channel 2/WMAR - was serving as a anchor on "Good Morning Memphis," via a Fox affiliated television station, when he was arrested by Tennessee police for the Wicomico warrant in May. He then elected to fight extradition back to Maryland. Now in the custody of Maryland authorities, Meroney's next court appearance will be at a bail hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.....
1984 charges against Meroney
These are the seven charges (and their dispositions) in the 1984 case brought against Meroney in Baltimore County, MD. For all but one charge, the decision was made not to prosecute. Meroney pleaded guilty to a single charge (third degree sexual offense) and received probation. He was not required to register as a sex offender.
(Each Charge is listed separately. The disposition is listed below the Charge)
Charge No: 1CJIS Code:Statute Code:27-35A
Charge Description: CHILD ABUSE - CHILD UNDER 18
Offense Date From: 07/05/1984To:
Arrest Tracking No: Citation:
Charge Amend No: 0Sentence Version:0Charge Class:
Disposition Plea: Plea Date:
Disposition: Nolle ProsequiDisposition Date:08/28/1984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 2CJIS Code:Statute Code:LIT
Charge Description: ASSAULT COMMON LAW
Offense Date From: 07/05/1984To:
Arrest Tracking No: Citation:
Charge Amend No: 0Sentence Version:0Charge Class:
Disposition Plea: Plea Date:
Disposition: Nolle ProsequiDisposition Date:08/28/1984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 3CJIS Code:Statute Code:27-463
Charge Description: RAPE - 2ND DEGREE
Offense Date From: 07/05/1984To:
Arrest Tracking No: Citation:
Charge Amend No: 0Sentence Version:0Charge Class:
Disposition Plea: Plea Date:
Disposition: Nolle ProsequiDisposition Date:08/28/1984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 4CJIS Code:Statute Code:27-464A
Charge Description: SEXUAL OFFENSE - SECOND DEGREE
Offense Date From: 07/05/1984To:
Arrest Tracking No: Citation:
Charge Amend No: 0Sentence Version:0Charge Class:
Disposition Plea: Plea Date:
Disposition: Nolle ProsequiDisposition Date:08/28/1984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 5CJIS Code:Statute Code:27-464B
Charge Description: SEXUAL OFFENSE - THIRD DEGREE
Offense Date From: 07/05/1984To:
Arrest Tracking No: Citation:
Charge Amend No: 0Sentence Version:0Charge Class:
Disposition Plea: GuiltyPlea Date:
Disposition: PBJ 641Disposition Date:08/28/1984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 6CJIS Code:Statute Code:27-464C
Charge Description: SEXUAL OFFENSE - FOURTH DEGREE
Offense Date From: 07/05/1984To:
Arrest Tracking No: Citation:
Charge Amend No: 0Sentence Version:0Charge Class:
Disposition Plea: Plea Date:
Disposition: Nolle ProsequiDisposition Date:08/28/1984
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 7CJIS Code:Statute Code:27-12
Charge Description: ASSAULT - W/INTENT
Offense Date From: 07/05/1984To:
Arrest Tracking No: Citation:
Charge Amend No: 0Sentence Version:0Charge Class:
Disposition Plea: Plea Date:
Disposition: Nolle ProsequiDisposition Date:08/28/1984
Meroney Surrenders in Wicomico County, MD
Meroney Surrenders in Wicomico County
Ex-Maryland TV Personality Surrenders
Friday, July 14, 2006
WBAL Radio and The Associated Press
A Memphis television anchor accused of committing statutory rape in Wicomico County in 1974 surrendered to authorities in Maryland on Thursday.
Ron Meroney, 69, of Arlington, Tenn., was indicted in December on a charge of statutory rape of a child under 14. He was arrested in Memphis in May.
The Wicomico County state's attorney's office refused to provide details about the incident, and the indictment was sealed. A news release issued by the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center in May said an investigation uncovered a statutory rape accusation between the months of June and October of 1974.
When Meroney was arrested, he first refused extradition, but later agreed to go to Maryland to face charges. He appeared before a Wicomico County Circuit judge late Thursday afternoon and was ordered to be held at the county detention center in lieu of $50,000 bond, state's attorney Davis Ruark told The (Salisbury) Daily Times.
Meroney had been an anchor on "Good Morning Memphis" on Memphis' FOX affiliate and has been in the city since at least 1998, after working in several markets throughout the country in radio and TV. He replaced Wink Martindale as host of "Top Ten Dance Party" in the 1950s, according to WHBQ-TV's Web site.
A person who answered the phone at WHBQ Thursday night refused to say whether Meroney was still employed there.
Meroney lived in Maryland in the 1970s and '80s, according to an online public records data base.
In 1984, Meroney was charged with several counts of sexual offenses in Baltimore County. Those charges included child abuse and rape.
All but one of those charges were dismissed in July 1984. On one charge, third-degree sexual offense, Meroney was granted probation before judgment, indicating that a judge found that the facts were sufficient for a prosecution, but instead elected to grant probation before entering a sentence.
Another blog with extensive Meroney info.
Huff's Crime Blog contains a lengthy thread about Meroney, which can be found here:
http://huffcrimeblog.com/?p=579
It begins:
Trust the News…I surely am not alone in being unable to resist looking into stories like the one unfolding in the largest city in my home state of Tennessee right now.
In Memphis, a long-time broadcaster has been arrested and charged with child sexual assault.
The first article found via Google News on the morning of May 5th, 2006 was an AP story, published (with, perhaps, a bit of schadenfreude?) by Memphis NBC affiliate WMC-TV:
A longtime Memphis broadcaster was arrested and charged with raping a young child more than two decades ago in Maryland.
Ron Meroney, 69, was arrested at his Memphis home Wednesday and has refused extradition to Wicomico County in Maryland. He was indicted in December on a charge of statutory rape of a child under 14 (...)
Meroney is an anchor on “Good Morning Memphis” on Memphis’ FOX affiliate and has been in the city since at least 1998, after working in several markets throughout the country in radio and TV.
