Bastrop Man Pleads Guilty To Molestation
By: Janice Park
Updated: April 20, 2009
Billy Ray Harper of Bastrop pled guilty today to exposing himself and touching a 12 year old girl.
Prosecutors say this isn't just a victory for a courageous 12 year old, but also 6 other women who say Harper also molested them.
Billy Ray Harper's wife was still in tears as she left the courthouse, after listening to her husband's guilty plea. Harper admitted to touching a 12 year old family friend on numerous occasions as the two hung out at Harper's barn looking at horses and at his home. He also admitted he tried to force the little girl to touch his private areas.
Harper sat stone-faced in the courtroom, as prosecutors read the girl's account of what happened a year and a half ago. Harper now faces up to 25 years in prison. A judge will decide that in June when he's sentenced. He'll go on trial in August for rape: a woman saw our original story about Harper, and came forward, saying he'd raped her years ago when she was only 8 years old.
Billy Ray Harper's wife was still in tears as she left the courthouse, after listening to her husband's guilty plea. Harper admitted to touching a 12 year old family friend on numerous occasions as the two hung out at Harper's barn looking at horses and at his home. He also admitted he tried to force the little girl to touch his private areas.
Harper sat stone-faced in the courtroom, as prosecutors read the girl's account of what happened a year and a half ago. Harper now faces up to 25 years in prison. A judge will decide that in June when he's sentenced. He'll go on trial in August for rape: a woman saw our original story about Harper, and came forward, saying he'd raped her years ago when she was only 8 years old.
