HOUSTON COUNTY, Feb. 23, 2012—Former Grapeland city councilman, Aaron Pennington, received punishment of the maximum sentences for each count of child sex charges on Thursday morning in a Houston County Courtroom.
 
District Judge Pam Foster Fletcher sentenced Pennington to 20 years in prison for the seven child sex charges. Since Pennington appeared in court, Judge Fletcher will allow him to serve the sentences concurrently.

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HOUSTON CO., Jan. 27, 2012—Aaron Wade Pennington, 30, of Grapeland pled guilty to seven charges on Thursday in the 349^th District Court of Judge Pam Foster Fletcher.
 
Pennington was indicted on all seven felony charges that he pled guilty to. These charges include two counts of Sexual Assault of a Child (under the age of 17); three counts of Possession of Child Pornography; and two counts of Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography.
 
Pennington accepted a plea agreement with the Houston County District Attorney. He has waived his rights to a jury trial and will be sentenced by Judge Fletcher on his next court date of Feb. 23 at 11 a.m.
 
During Pennington’s next court date, Judge Fletcher will take into consideration the plea agreement that was arranged by Houston County District Attorney Donna Gordon Kasper. There are stipulations to the plea agreement that if Pennington should not appear in court on his scheduled date that will change from a concurrent sentencing to a “stacked” sentence.
 
Pennington is currently under bond supervision through the probation department and will be required to check-in to their department once a week. He will also be required to pay a bond supervision fee of $45 a month until his sentencing. He is restricted from contacting the alleged victims and cannot be unsupervised with boys under the age of 18.
 
Pennington will be out on bail until his next court date, unless he violates his court-appointed stipulations. 

Houston County District Attorney Donna Kaspar released the following statement about the case:

"I am pleased to say that the Aaron Pennington case is being resolved with a plea.   Mr. Pennington has pleaded guilty to all charges against him and will be sentenced to the agreed punishment on February 23, 2012.  I have recommended the maximum sentence in each case.  That is 20 years in TDC in the sexual assault cases and the Promotion of Pornography cases and 10 years TDC in the Possession of Child Pornography cases.  At the request of the defendant the case was set for sentencing in February and it was agreed that the sentences in each case will be stacked if Mr. Pennington fails to show up for his court date on February 23^rd  or fails to continue to follow his bond restrictions. 

This agreement comes after discussions with the victims and their families and takes into consideration the safety of the community, the cost and expense to the county of a full trial and more importantly the avoidance of embarrassment for the victims and their families.  I am profoundly grateful that there were two victims willing to tell the authorities what was happening.  I know that it takes courage and strength to do so as many victims never speak out at all.  I am glad that we were able to resolve the case with an appropriate punishment and without the need for the victims to testify and relive the pain and anguish caused by Mr. Pennington. I appreciate the fine job done by the Grapeland Police Department and the Attorney General’s Office."