BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE AUTAUGA NEWS
John Cole Carter, 32, faced his victims and their families this morning in an Elmore County Courtroom before Circuit Judge Joy Booth and was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his crimes against two female juveniles.
Those crimes include transmitting obscene material, possession of child pornography, second-degree sex abuse, electronic solicitation of a child and enticing a child for immoral purposes.
Carter plead guilty earlier this year to these crimes involving two females who were 13 and 14. Carter was 31 when the crimes occurred, married and the father of an infant son. He was also a Wetumpka Firefighter, and evidence shows he even met with the girls at the fire station to engage in inappropriate and illegal behavior.
It was up to Judge Booth to hand down a sentence, but before that happened, she heard from the victims through letters, and the father of one of the victims. The victims wrote of having to live with the emotional scars of what they endured, admitting that with time, they have come to realize they were manipulated and convinced that Carter actually cared for them.
In their letters, both victims said that they now understand that Carter was a full-grown man, who took advantage of them and preyed upon their weaknesses and immaturity. It took time for them to realize, they said, that this was not their fault, but the work of someone grooming them for this type of activity.
The father of one of the victims addressed Carter saying,” I trusted you,” and that Carter was a family friend that betrayed that trust.
The prosecution team then showed short clips of videos and played audio recordings of conversations Carter had with the girls. Evidence also included a phone call from jail to his then girlfriend. His wife had left him by this time. In that call the two were talking about volunteering at an animal shelter. When she told Carter she was only 14 at the time she first volunteered, Carter was heard to say he would have been willing to “catch” another charge. The girlfriend responded she would have let him.
The prosecution team was made up of District Attorney Robinson, Chief Assistant District Attorney Amanda Johnson and Senior Assistant District Attorney Brittney Pinon.
They argued that Carter’s ego, and his family’s standing in the community, made Carter believe he was untouchable, and would get out of anything because they knew the right people.
Speaking on behalf of Carter were three people, including Carter’s mother, his uncle, and one of his former schoolteachers. In the courtroom were also some of the teacher’s current students there to watch the court proceedings.
Carter’s mother, uncle and former teacher all asked for help for Carter, who they said has already entered in multiple therapy sessions for his addiction to sex and pornography. They asked the judge to consider that prior to these acts against the girls, Carter led a good, responsible life. He attended Auburn where he obtained degrees, worked as a firefighter and was a very nice person willing to help anyone in need. He worked on the family’s sod farm and created side businesses to help the family. He was referred to by the uncle as a gentle giant and Teddy Bear.
Carter’s defense attorney Richard White told the judge he could not make any argument to defend the crimes Carter committed. He said that instead, he wanted the judge to take into account the good that Carter had done in his life prior to giving in to his demons and acting on temptation. White said that since being in jail, Carter has been tutoring other prisoners trying to get their high school diploma.
White said that the time Carter was engaged in the illegal behavior was just a season of his life, but there is a bigger picture to be considered.
Finally, Carter was asked if he had anything to say.
He looked at the judge saying he was genuinely sorry for what he had done. He said he had led a good life until his horrible decisions caused by his demons, and he knows he cannot take it back. He spoke of his son, now 2, and said he does not want him growing up without a father.
Judge Booth then asked Carter to address his victims directly, and he turned to them and again apologized for what he had done.
After hearing all testimony, Judge Booth made her decision on the sentence for all charges to be combined in a concurrent sentence of 30 years imprisonment.
She said that after listening to everyone, she agrees these acts were despicable, and she believes that Carter’s huge ego made him believe he could get away with what he did.
With the sentence given, the hearing ended with Carter was taken back to a jail cell.
Afterwards, District Attorney CJ Robinson met with media outside of the courtroom for final comments.
“The biggest point I want to make is we wanted truth. At the end of the day, we are here for the truth. It is not a twist of words or a sliver of something to make something sound better. The truth is there were some children that were preyed upon and manipulated. And now the person who did it has had to stand accountable and now they are going to prison.
“I said in there today that even evil can prosper for a season. And here it did. There were decisions made and there was no accountability for it. There was no check. Somebody thought they would get away with it. I am glad that (Carter) finally stood in front of the judge and said ‘I was wrong, what I did. I am ready to take the punishment.’”
Robinson continued, “I am glad to finally hear him say that. But make no mistake, (Carter) was a sexual predator and these two girls’ lives are changed forever.”
Robinson stressed the potential issues that can evolve from young people on social media and phones. He said the dangers are very real, when kids are allowed to use these tools without adult supervision, as the predators are out there. They are just waiting for a door of opportunity to open.
