– Photo by Dennis Brown
Former Vanceburg minister Duncan D. Aker Jr. pleaded guilty to five counts of first degree sexual abuse as part of a plea agreement in which charges of four counts of first degree sodomy will be dropped.
The plea was entered Friday afternoon in Lewis Circuit Court.
Aker was flanked by his attorneys, Dan Dickerson and Tom Raisbeck, as he answered questions about his plea from Judge Frank A. Fletcher.
Fletcher was sitting in for Circuit Judge Robert Conley.
Under the terms of the agreement, Aker, 64, would serve a year in jail and then be on probation for five years. He would also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Formal sentencing is scheduled for April 15 in Lewis Circuit Court before Judge Conley.
“The sentencing will be left up to Judge Conley as to whether to reject the plea or accept it,” Fletcher said.
The time Aker has spent in jail since his arrest on May 4, 2015, will be counted toward the sentence making him eligible for release about May 3.
Fletcher read the charges against Aker before those in the courtroom.
“The offer on a plea of guilty is as follows,” Judge Fletcher said.
“Ten years on each count of sexual abuse, first degree, to run concurrent for a total sentence of 10 years. With an alternative sentence the defendant shall serve 365 days in jail with credit for time served. The balance of sentence probated under supervision, and must register as a sex offender and complete the sex offender treatment programs upon release,” Fletcher read. “Probation shall be for a stated period of five years.”
“Is that your understanding, sir, of the offer of the Commonwealth?” Fletcher asked Aker.
“Yes, your honor, it is,” Aker replied.
Aker confirmed he had signed the motion to enter a guilty plea form and had reviewed the related documents with his attorneys.
“Do you understand (the documents)?” Fletcher asked.
“Indeed, I do,” Aker replied.
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