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October 20, 2005
Dozens Turn Out For Child Rapist's Parole Hearing
Shaffer Denied Parole
LONDON, Ohio -- A group of parents prepared for a fight Wednesday, believing they may be the only thing standing between a convicted pedophile and future victims.
Ronald Shaffer was a 4-H leader, a leader in youth organizations and a baseball coach in Marion County. In 1986, he pleaded guilty to molesting or raping six children. Now, he is up for parole and some of his victims had plenty to say at his hearing on Wednesday morning, NBC 4's Elizabeth Scarborough reported.
Shaffer has been up for parole five times, but Wednesday marked the first instance where both supporters and opponents showed up at the facility.
The protestors and supporters waited for about five hours to hear that Shaffer will remain in prison. How long he will stay behind bars is not known. A full parole board will meet to determine how much more time Shaffer will serve of his sentence.
"I remember everything that happened," said Brad Ritchie, a victim. "At first, I felt it was my fault. But as it went on and on and on, I realized that it wasn't my fault. I was a kid. I didn't know any better. I get through it every day of my life. I just deal with it."
Shaffer's wife said she and her family also deal with it every day.
"He's remorseful –- very remorseful for what he's done. He can't change it," said Cheryl Shaffer. "We've missed out on a lot."
His family said serving 18 years was enough.
"He's been through all the programs that he could possibly go through and we just feel it's time that he be returned to society," Cheryl Shaffer said.
The families of his victims disagree, saying he should stay behind bars to protect other children.
"26 years should mean 26 years. It should not mean 18," an unidentified protestor said.
When Shaffer faced the possibility of parole in June 2003, dozens turned out to protest his release, including one of his victims who played on a baseball team he coached.
"He stole our innocence," said Ryan Scheiderer, a victim.
The victims believed the signs and noise made during the hearing swayed the parole board previously and kept Shaffer behind bars.
Ron Scheiderer, a victim's father, is still haunted by the case. He's a former sheriff who said he couldn't recognize that Shaffer was a pedophile.
Another victim's mother felt the she, too, was fooled by Shaffer. Chris Ritchie said Shaffer conned his way into her family, posing as a friend, only to rape her child repeatedly. She said a repeat turnout is the only way to keep Shaffer from finding new victims.
"(We) can't change the past, but hopefully, we can change the future," Chris Ritchie said.
Posted by Nealus at October 20, 2005 08:19 AM
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