20-year-old case settled

By CODY DALTON
cody@southwesttimes.com

A more than 20-year-old sex offense involving a 25-year-old man and a teenager was settled on Friday with the man being placed on probation and listed on the National Sex Offender Registry.

According to testimony, the incident occurred Jan. 26, 1989 at a mobile home at 4319 Brookmont Road.

Court records show Mark Reed Nelson, who is now 46 and living in Moneta, was indicted Nov. 17, 2008 with carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old. He entered an Alford plea (nolo contendere or no contest) to the charge Oct. 14, meaning he acknowledges evidence is sufficient for a finding of guilt, but he is not admitting guilt.

The victim, whose identity is being withheld due to the nature of the case, spoke in front of the court in tears Friday. “I stand before this court a victim,” she said, referring to herself as “a vase shattered into a million pieces.” Of the offense, she said she had to "bury it deep inside.”

She added that the incident caused her to reach a social lull and eventually led to an overdose on July 4, 1989.

The victim's mother read a written statement in support of her daughter, explaining the overdose in more detail.

Nelson received a five-year suspended sentence and was placed on three years probation, which will begin immediately. The sentence also requires him to pay a $1,285 fine and register with the National Sex Offender Registry.

Nelson is a former paramedic with Carillon in Roanoke and he also held two other similar part time jobs in Salem. He was suspended from Carillon after he was charged.

Two men who had worked with Nelson – Larry Bentley and Mark Kramer – as well as his minister, Ray Bell, and wife, Debbie, testified on his behalf.