Feb. 17, with 1,631 days of lingering in the court system to his credit, Ronald Lee Tyler, 81, finally admitted to sex crimes committed against Jefferson County’s children, members of his own family. With a wave of support behind the child sex offender, however, the accused championed for deferred adjudicated probation, so that once probation is complete, Tyler can spend his golden years with a clean criminal record.
Defense attorney Ryan Gertz said that sending the predator prison was the “easy” way out the circumstances the defendant caused and asked presiding Jefferson County Criminal District Court Judge John Stevens to send Tyler home with his supportive family and friends.
“The court has two options – what is easy and what is right,” Stevens said with the defendant looking on.
Two counts of indecency with a child and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child have lingered in the court system for five years already, all indicted in 2021, indicating Tyler sexually abused two children, at the time ages 6 and 11, many times over the course of many years. The allegations date to 2018. In exchange for a guilty plea in two indecency with a child by sexual contact cases, the state dropped the aggravated sexual assault of a child charge indicted by a grand jury. Agreed sentencing would not exceed a cap of 10 years in prison.
“Regular probation is not an option,” Stevens confirmed, but Gertz asserted that deferred probation was still an option – the right option, according to the defense attorney that produced a stack of support letters asking for leniency for Tyler.
“They’re all wonderful people,” Stevens said of persons writing in on behalf of the admitted predator. No letters of support for the victim were mentioned during the proceeding.
Prosecutor Jimmy Hamm said he was there, though, to speak for the victims.
“This has been a horrific journey (for everybody, the judge interjected) – for the two girls,” Hamm voiced, his tone reflecting the seriousness of his assertions. “My focus is on the girls. They were so young they can hardly remember the details. Justice requires a 10-year sentence on that.
“Two strong young ladies have stood forth and they are asking your honor to set a punishment of 10 years – and I join in their request.”
Hamm further detailed the imposition placed on the victims, who were forced to face docket after docket, with Tyler and his attorney delaying the proceedings year after year after year.
“It took to Dec. 17, 2025, for any acknowledgement of wrongdoing in this matter,” Hamm said of the case indicted more than four years prior. “The family is frustrated with the length of time for this man to stand here and accept any wrongdoing.”
Admission of wrongdoing was pitiful, at best, Hamm further indicated.
“They claim it’s a one-time incident and try to minimize what’s happened here,” Hamm argued of legal filings from the defense that the prosecution said were inciteful. “There’s several incorrect statements in the (defense) motion.”
Hamm pointed to the defense’s countless numbers of letters from Tyler’s friends and family: “Nobody acknowledges these children or what they went through.”
One child detailed “over 100 times” of sexual assault by the defendant.
Highlighting notes from probation department, Hamm read from a pre-sentence report that classified Tyler as a “significant risk to minor victims,” who groomed children for sexual assault, as well as took and kept inappropriate photos of the child victims.
“In our opinion, it does do justice to what’s happened here,” Hamm said of the defense’s characterization of events as they truly were.
“It’s essentially torn his family in half,” Gertz said of Tyler’s supporters also suffering if the 81-year-old man was sentenced to prison. According to Gertz, child sex offending is a blip on an otherwise stellar record of life. “Other than this conduct, judge, he’s been a model citizen. He has lived a good and decent life except of this conduct here.”
“Based on the totality of Mr. Tyler’s circumstances,” Gertz argued regardless of what’s best for the victims as Hamm asked for the defense to address, “We’re asking the court give consideration to the letters to the court from the friends, from the family…”
“I read every one of those letters attached about that man,” Stevens advised the parties. “He’s groomed all those people. It is his conduct we are here talking about. We don’t excuse people’s behavior because one day they were great and the next day they murder somebody.
“This (man) has forever changed those children – forever.”
“I take responsibility for my actions,” Tyler told the court, mostly muted. “I love …(the victims).”
In the admitted pre-sentence report, Tyler’s feelings were reported differently.
“I do not take responsibility for the offense… they were just (my family),” Tyler told the probation department before court.
“Which is the truth?” Stevens prodded to a silent defendant. The judge continued, “What is the price for loss of innocence of a child? What kind of punishment is fair for what the child has lost forever? It seems like it should be severe.
“These are choices you elected to make. Those choices have consequences, no matter your age.
“This is a forever mistake … that will harm the people you claim to love – forever.”
Stevens said this is a no-win situation for anyone, but the victims will not be stuck with a court that does not hear their pleas for justice.
“Victims have a voice with court; they always have,” Stevens said. In line with the victims’ request, and sans any evidence that deferred probation was in their best interest, Stevens sentenced Tyler to confinement in prison for 10 years on each case to run concurrently. “It’s a terrible set of circumstances.”
“I just wish I had the power to change history. But, this is what the court deems as justice under these circumstances.”
One of the survivors of Tyler’s crimes addressed the court and her abuser.
“I only know what he was doing … since I can remember,” she said. “My life changed when we finally got away from you.
“I can no longer look at older men the same. I always think they are going to do something to me. I always have to stay on alert.
“You’re supposed to love your (family), but not in a sick way.
“You made it to where no one questioned it.
“You are a sick human being and I’m so thankful this is over. I am now able to sleep at night knowing you cannot hurt another child.”
