Judge orders 15 yrs. in Naylor school abuse case

A Butler County judge sentenced a former Naylor assistant principal to 15 years in prison Tuesday afternoon for sexually assaulting a female student on campus in 2015.

John Franklin Mullins appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for sentencing, having pleaded guilty in October to the unclassified felony of first-degree statutory sodomy. He was accompanied by his attorney, Dan Moore.

The 56-year-old Gatewood man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a then 16-year-old female student Oct. 23, 2015, in a supply closet at the school.

During a hearing last week, Pritchett heard testimony from Mullins’ victim, as well as two other former students. Moore also called five witnesses to provide testimony regarding Mullins’ character at that time, and Mullins addressed the court.

In a statement to the court Tuesday, Pritchett said, “Mr. Mullins said he was the adult, and he made bad decisions.

“He made worse than bad decisions. His conduct impacted a community and school.”

Teachers have power, Pritchett said.

“They have power of persuasion and personality,” Pritchett said. “Their power is different than which students have.”

School, according to Pritchett, should have been a “safe place” for the victim, not somewhere she had to “fend off the sexual advances of her accuser.”

The state also previously used information from the former students to provide evidence of Mullins’ alleged propensity to commit sexual-related crimes against children.

Pritchett subsequently reiterated he could only sentence Mullins on the charge he pleaded guilty to and then sentenced him to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The victim, Pritchett said, spoke of how Mullins’ actions had impacted her life, while the other state witnesses spoke of the impact to them and the community.

The defense’s witnesses spoke of Mullins’ character and his conduct up to today, Pritchett said.

Pritchett said he heard a good deal of testimony that was “appropriate I consider” regarding Mullins’ sentencing as to Count I — first-degree statutory sodomy.

Pritchett said he could not sentence Mullins in relation to his remaining three counts — the unclassified felony of first-degree rape and two Class D felonies of sexual contact with a student — as they were to be dismissed at sentencing, or his propensity.

Two additional Class D felonies of sexual contact with a student regarding another then teen also were to be dismissed. That case involved a second alleged victim — a then 15-year-old female.

Pritchett said it is only appropriate for Mullins to be sentenced for the offense he pleaded guilty to and careful consideration was given as to what that sentence should be.

In deciding on Mullins’ sentence, Pritchett said, he “fully considered” the contents of the sentencing assessment report completed by Probation and Parole and last week’s testimony.

During the victim’s statement, Pritchett said, she asked rhetorical questions, including “why me” and spoke of how it was her fault for not telling anyone.

Pritchett said the victim spoke of how she had “lost so much trust in people” and of not trusting anyone.

The victim’s responses, he said, are not unusual.

“I’m very happy she is in counseling,” Pritchett said. “ … None of this was her fault. She has nothing to feel guilty about.”