Tennessee man sentenced to probation in 3-year child sexual abuse case

(ABC 6 News) – On Sept. 12, Mower County judge Natalie Martinez sentenced Ronnie Robert Aldrich to 20 years of probation for taking an Alford plea in a child sexual abuse case.

The allegedly assaults began when the child was 6, and ended around age 9.

Aldrich entered an Alford plea, a type of guilty plea wherein the defendant maintains that they are innocent, but concedes that the court has sufficient evidence to convict them of the crime.

Aldrich received a stay of adjudication — meaning if completes his probation without incident, the 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct charge will be dismissed entirely.

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(ABC 6 News) – A Tennessee man pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct with an Austin child under age 10 in exchange for up to 20 years’ probation.

Ronnie Robert Aldrich, 39, was accused in April of 2020 of repeatedly raping the child over the course of three years when both lived in the city of Austin, Minnesota.

Aldrich, who moved to Georgetown, Tennessee after being charged, entered a petition to plead guilty to the charge of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, in exchange for a stay of adjudication, or probation sentence, for up to 20 years.

Aldrich entered an Alford plea, a type of guilty plea wherein the defendant maintains that they are innocent, but concedes that the court has sufficient evidence to convict them of the crime.

Although 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony, the defense and prosecution have not asked for a firearm restriction “for hunting purposes,” according to Aldrich’s plea agreement.

Aldrich’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15.

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(ABC 6 News) – A Georgia man will stand trial in Mower County Court March 20 on four charges of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, including penetration, with a child ages 6-9.

Ronnie Robert Aldrich, 38, was accused in April of 2020 of repeatedly raping the child when both lived in the city of Austin, Minnesota.

Aldrich, who now lives in Cedarwood, Georgia, appeared in Mower County Court for a pretrial hearing Friday, March 10.

His jury trial is scheduled to begin Monday, March 20.

According to court documents, after Aldrich was charged with sexually abusing the child, an adult woman who knew the child told law enforcement that Aldrich had sexually abused her as well, beginning when she was a young teenager.