Ricky Yeldell
Greenwood, S.C.; June 14, 2016 – Eighth Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday that a Greenwood man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to molesting a 5-year-old girl.
Ricky Anthony Yeldell, Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to charges of second degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and third degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Circuit Judge Eugene Griffith sentenced Yeldell to 20 years in prison on the charge of second degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and 15 years in prison suspended to two years of probation on the charge of third degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, with the sentences to run consecutively.
After Yeldell serves the 20-year active prison sentence in the state prison system he will have an additional 15-year consecutive sentence hanging over his head should he violate his probation conditions. Those conditions include sex offender registry, GPS monitoring and no contact with minor children.
In July 2014, the victim was taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood. The victim’s body showed strong evidence of a sexual assault, including the presence of a sexually transmitted disease. The victim disclosed the assault to nurses, investigators and case workers with Department of Social Services. Yeldell also tested positive for the same sexually transmitted disease as the victim.
Deputy Solicitor Yates Brown and Senior Assistant Solicitor Lance Sheek handled the case for the state. Yeldell was represented by Greenwood attorney Stephen Geoly.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of law enforcement, DSS and his prosecutors for locking in a long-term prison sentence for Yeldell and ensuring that he will be tagged as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“It’s absolutely despicable to think that a grown man, who is supposed to protect, could harm a young child in such a way,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “We will fight for our kids as long as I am in this office to put sick predators like Ricky Yeldell where they belong – behind bars.”