Maryland couple agrees to a reduced prison sentence for drugging, abusing girl on road trip
FROM THE CITRUS COUNTY CHRONICLE:
(Dec. 18, 2019) – A Maryland couple facing life in prison for coordinating a young girl’s sexual abuse during a road trip to Citrus County decided Wednesday to accept prosecutors’ plea offer to each serves less than a decade behind bars.
In exchange for respective prison sentences of eight and five years, Ronald and Jessica Yancey pleaded no contest to amended charges of attempted sexual battery of a child, attempted use of a child’s sexual performance and conspiring to use a child’s sexual performance, according to Assistant State Attorney Shannon Schlarf.
Circuit Court Judge Richard “Ric” Howard ratified the Yanceys’ plea, adjudicated them guilty and designated them as sexual predators, Schlarf said.
The Yanceys’ changed their not-guilty pleas before their separate attorneys, Michael Blackstone and Debra Tuomey, argued on the third day of defense motions, according to Schlarf.
Schlarf said she had offered the Yanceys a 10-year prison term, but later agreed to Blackstone’s and Tuomey’s counteroffers for eight and five years.
Had they been convicted of their original sexual battery charges, the Yanceys had to serve a mandatory life sentence in prison. MORE
Paternity and child support ordered in Maryland in 2015
In a paternity action against Ronald Lee Yancey III, of 59 Barrett Road, Conowingo, Md., filed in Cecil County, Maryland, Circuit Court on Oct. 7, 2015, the following decision in the case of Nichole Starr Hatley vs. Ronald Lee Yancey III was listed in Maryland court records:
Ordered that the registration of the foreign Final Judgment of Paternity, Support and Repayment of Arrearage Report of the Child Support Hearing Officer, in the Circuit County of the Fifth Judicial Circuit in and for Citrus County, Florida dated May 28, 2008, is hereby confirmed. TTC to Child Support Enforcement, N. Hatley, R. Yancey Filed: 10/07/2015 Decision: Granted
In a paternity action against Ronald Lee Yancey III, of 59 Barrett Road, Conowingo, Md., filed in Cecil County, Maryland, Circuit Court on Oct. 7, 2015, the following decision in the case of Nichole Starr Hatley vs. Ronald Lee Yancey III was listed in Maryland court records:
Ordered that the registration of the foreign Final Judgment of Paternity, Support and Repayment of Arrearage Report of the Child Support Hearing Officer, in the Circuit County of the Fifth Judicial Circuit in and for Citrus County, Florida dated May 28, 2008, is hereby confirmed. TTC to Child Support Enforcement, N. Hatley, R. Yancey Filed: 10/07/2015 Decision: Granted
Patricia A. Robinson filed in Harford County Circuit Court for custody of a child on Feb. 23, 2018, against Jessica and Ronald Lee Yancey III. Both of the defendants were listed in court records as being incarcerated in prison in the Citrus County Jail in Lecanto, Florida. The summons in the case was not served and a request was made on Dec. 6, 2019 to re-issue the summons in order to continue the litigation seeking custody.