THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994 TAG: 9406170609
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ESTES THOMPSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: 940617 LENGTH: EDENTON
Willard Scott Privott, 45, had already served three years, eight months in jail awaiting trial before his bail was reduced from $1 million. He was released about a year ago.
{REST} The case involving the Little Rascals Day Care Center in 1989 polarized the small northeastern North Carolina town for a time and brought unwanted publicity. One account, by the ``Frontline'' show on PBS, depicted parents as hysterical people who overreacted to rumors.
While Privott denied any guilt, the mother of two children prosecutors say he abused stood in court to read a statement that lambasted Privott.
``... One day you will stand before Almighty God and be accountable for that which you have done here on earth and no amount of lies and manipulation, no `Frontline' presentation will be able to hide the truth from Him,'' Susan Small said. ``He knows every sordid detail and I pity you for that.''
Juries have convicted the two defendants who already chose to come to trial: Robert F. Kelly Jr., sentenced to 12 life prison terms, and Kathryn Dawn Wilson, sentenced to one life term.
Elizabeth T. Kelly, co-owner with her husband of the day care, has pleaded no contest and is serving a seven-year prison sentence.
Three other defendants - former day care workers Shelly Stone and Robin Byrum and acquaintance Darlene Harris - still face charges. After Kelly was convicted, prosecutors said they would entertain plea bargains from the other defendants.
Prosecutors said Kelly and Privott performed sex acts on each other in front of the children and performed sex acts with the children and took photos. No pictures were found, but children testified they were photographed.
Privott, who now lives in Cary but once ran a video shop here, pleaded no contest to 34 counts of taking indecent liberties, two counts of crimes against nature and one count of conspiracy. He faced a maximum 363 years in prison even though prosecutors dropped any first-degree sex offense charge that carried a mandatory life sentence.
Attorney General Mike Easley said the resolution was in the best interest of the children.
``For more than five years, they have helped us put their abusers away behind bars, and they are continuing to do so,'' Easley said in a prepared statement. ``We want the children to get on with normal lives as soon as possible.''
The sentence was divided into two parts. On one part, Superior Court Judge Marsh McLelland sentenced Privott to seven years and 10 months, but gave him credit for the time already served and said there would be no more prison time to be served. In the other part, McLelland sentenced Privott to a 10-year sentence, which he suspended for five years and ordered Privott to five years of probation.
The judge also ordered Privott to pay for his court-ordered psychological treatment and his court-appointed attorney fees.
{KEYWORDS} SEX CRIME CHILD MOLESTER SENTENCE TRIAL by CNB