INDIANA
Pantagraph
By Edith Brady-Lunny eblunny@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — A former Twin City minister has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following his guilty plea to predatory criminal sexual assault charges.
Rodney D. Applington, 42, a former associate pastor at East White Oak Bible Church in rural Carlock, was charged in January with having illegal physical contact with a minor girl.
A second charge of predatory criminal sexual assault was dismissed in a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Ghrist said after Friday’s hearing that “this case reminds us that child sex abuse is real and present in Bloomington-Normal. Acceptance of this as a community will lead to education and help protect our children.”
Applington faced six to 30 years on the Class X felony charges without the plea deal. He must serve 85 percent of the 12 years in prison.
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