Predator Probation
By: Whitney Ray
Updated: May 2, 2007
Raymond Wheeler will avoid prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual indecency with a child. Benton County prosecutors reached a plea agreement with Wheeler because the mother of the victims told prosecutors she would testify that she didnt want Wheeler to go to prison. As part of the plea agreement, Wheeler was sentenced to 90 days in the Benton County Jail, and has to register as a sex offender.
In January, a sex offender who reached a plea agreement with prosecutors 2005, was arrested again for sexual assault. George Perez could have been in jail on the day a 10 year old girl was assaulted at Eastside Elementary School in Rogers, but while facing charges of sexual indecency two year early, he reach an agreement with prosecutors.
Prosecutors say the reason they bargained with Perez is because the young victim in the case was going to take the stand and say Perez didnt assault her.
Prosecutor say child sexual abuse cases can be difficult.
"There are a lot of cases out there that we know are going to be hard." Shane Wilkinson, Benton County Chief Deputy Prosecutor, said. "We weigh the pros and the cons. Sometimes we need to get these guys registered and maybe we would like them to serve more time."
