14th September, 2016
A former mayor who “dedicated his life to Jesus” who repeatedly sexually assaulted a four-year-old girl has blamed her for being a “willing participant”, reports have said.
Richard Keenan served as mayor of Hubbard, Ohio, in 2010 and 2011. He faces multiple counts of rape and attempted rape of a child.
According to the Youngstown Vindicator, Kenaan who confessed to a social worker and family members said his abuse of children spanned over three years but claimed his four-year-old victim ‘initiated sex’.
The period of assault, he reportedly admitted, spanned a three-year period, starting when the girl was four years old.
The child told his wife about the abuse and she confronted Keenan.
“I did it,” he said, according to court documents.
He has checked himself into a psychiatric clinic. Nonetheless, A judge must now decide if his confessions are admissible in court.
Keenan is due to stand trial in April next 2017.