Posted 1:43 pm Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Mineola Man Gets 50 Years For Abusing His Daughter
By DAYNA WORCHEL
Staff Writer
A 50-year-old Mineola man was sentenced to 50 years confinement on Thursday on two charges of sexually abusing his daughter in the 1990s.
Staff Writer
A 50-year-old Mineola man was sentenced to 50 years confinement on Thursday on two charges of sexually abusing his daughter in the 1990s.
Gregory Applegate sexually abused his now 27-year-old daughter Amanda Richardson from the time she was 10 until she reached the age of 14.
Applegate faced a range of punishment from two to 20 years and up to a $10,000 fine on the charge of sexual assault of a child, which occurred in 1996, and a possible five to 99 years or life sentence and up to a $10,000 fine on the charge of aggravated sexual assault, which occurred in 1992, Smith County District Attorney Jason Parrish said.
The sentencing took place in the 114th Smith County District Court, with Judge Christi Kennedy presiding.
Richardson, who filed the charges against Applegate in May, has written a book about her experiences called "Saved from Silence: My Journey Back from Childhood Abuse."
Parrish said there is no longer a statute of limitations on charges of child abuse. Applegate will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, he said.
"She had dealt with a lot of physical and emotional abuse, and we argued for the maximum on both charges," said Parrish.
Defense Attorney Tonda Curry represented Applegate.
