Former Kentucky officer sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing children

A former Kentucky police officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing children. Alan Brent Hale pleaded guilty last year to two conveictions of first-dgree sodomy, and was recently sentenced in a hearing on Tuesday.

According to the Kansas City Star, Judge Ryan W. Horsman ruled that Hale must be incarcerated for five years for each count, with consecutive sentences.

Hale was accused of deviate sexual intercourse with three children under the age of 12. The crimes at hand were said to have happened between January 2002 and December 2005. The crimes occurred in Clinton County, and Hale was first investigated by the Missouri State Highway patrol and charged 20 years later.

The 10 year sentence is a much harsher punishment than what was suggested by prosecutors and defense attorneys. In Hale’s plea agreement, it was recommended he receive a suspended sentence of seven years, which would only have him serve prison time if he violated his probation.

Defense Attorney Luke Alsobrook filed a memorandum in court to ask the judge to follow the recommendation. He argued that Hale had no prior criminal history and was a good police officer, and was at a low risk of re-offending.

He wrote, “Mr. Hale is deeply sorry to find himself in front of the Court on this case, and he is deeply sorry for the harm that he caused to the victims in this case.”

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