| Sources |
- [S47] Sevier County, Tennessee and its Heritage, Sevier County Heritage Book Committee, (1994, Don Mills, Inc.), 315.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 25 Jul 2008.
Ex-Sevier judge admits he downloaded a hundred images of child porn, and jail time ahead
By: DEREK HODGES Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE - Former General Sessions Court Judge Ron Reagan of Sevierville faces 46 months in a federal prison after pleading guilty Thursday to felony child pornography possession.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Phillips handed down the punishment despite arguments by Reagan's attorney, Scott Green, who claimed the jail term amounts to a death sentence.
"Prison would be life-threatening to this defendant," Green said, noting Reagan's heart problems following open heart surgery in July 2006. "He has to be constantly monitored. We would suggest to the court that a sentence absent confinement equals a sentence that is sufficient."
To bolster his argument, Green pointed out Reagan has no prior legal history, only had a few offending files on his computer hard drive and has suffered the punishment of public humiliation after 104 files showing lewd actions involving minors were found on Reagan's computer.
"He has been completely devastated," Green said. "He has ruined his life. His life is never going to be the same again."
At his own request, Reagan addressed the court, echoing Green's comments that the anguish he has suffered and caused is worse than jail time.
"I want to personally apologize to the court for even being here," Reagan said. "I've embarrassed myself. I've embarrassed my family. I've embarrassed my friends. I've always taught my children that bad actions bring consequences. I'll take the consequences of my actions. The hurt is there that I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions."
Reagan's words affected his family and friends in attendance, many of whom sat quietly crying during the proceedings. Several of them, sobbing and shedding tears, held Reagan during a recess following the sentencing.
While Reagan's words may have stirred the gallery, they didn't deter Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Weddle. He pointed out federal prisons are equipped to handle the medical needs of inmates, including those with serious, long-term conditions.
"He certainly has health concerns, but the Bureau of Prisons can provide adequate medical care for Mr. Reagan," Weddle said. "Mr. Reagan's medical conditions do not warrant a variance (from the prescribed sentence of jail time)."
Further, Weddle countered Green's argument the punishment should be lessened because there were "only" 104 files found on Reagan's computer.
"That would be like saying the way to punish a bank robber is based on the number of bills that were taken," Weddle said. "The court has to impose a sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense and to reflect just punishment."
In issuing the sentence, Phillips said he saw no reason Reagan shouldn't face the punishment dictated by federal statutes.
"I agree that this defendant has medical concerns, but they will be more than taken care of in a federal prison," Phillips said.
Further, Phillips defended the use of jail time for child pornography charges, particularly in Reagan's case.
"This type of offense is extremely hard to understand," Phillips said, saying the pictures found on Reagan's computer hard drive depicted sexual acts between children and adults. "As a member of the bar and a judge in Sevier County, (Reagan) simply knew better."
Reagan was released into monitored probation on a $200,000 signature bond until he is ordered to report for his sentence. Phillips agreed to release Reagan because none of the local prisons offer the type of medical attention Reagan needs.
Reagan once served as a judge and worked as an attorney in Sevier County for decades until a child pornography investigation led to him in March 2006. That's when officers with the Knoxville Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement interviewed Reagan at his Sevierville office. That office remained open this week.
Reagan reportedly received the illegal images after engaging in chat room discussions.
The case was sealed as Reagan awaited a hearing in District Court and a plea agreement was reached, though it only helped save Reagan a few years off the maximum possible sentence for the charges.
According to Phillips, Reagan will lose his license to practice law as a result of the sentence. He will also face 10 years of closely monitored probation and will have to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.
n dhodges@themountainpress.com
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 25 Jul 2008.
Ex-Judge had child porn
Ex-judge who created safe haven for abused kids gets 46 months
By Jamie Satterfield (Contact)
A former Sevier County judge who helped set up a safe haven for abused children admitted Thursday to perusing photographs of children being sexually abused and exploited.
Sevierville attorney Ronald R. Reagan, 59, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to the possession of 104 images of child pornography on the computer he used at his law firm. U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips sentenced Reagan to 46 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. The married father and grandfather is barred from unsupervised contact with anyone younger than 18.
Reagan spent more than a decade serving the judicial system, from his work as a judicial commissioner tasked with issuing warrants against suspects to his tenure as a judge overseeing both Sevier County's sessions court docket and its juvenile court.
As juvenile court judge, Reagan created one of the first child advocacy centers in the region. Known as Kids Place, the facility was established as a safe haven for sexually abused children.
But in March 2006, Reagan no longer was protecting children but instead was exploiting them, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Weddle.
Weddle told Phillips that Reagan became engaged in a discussion in an Internet chat room about child pornography and ultimately accepted delivery of e-mail containing a total of 104 images of young children engaging in sex acts with adult men.
Although court records do not detail how Reagan's receipt of child pornography was discovered, it is a common practice for Knoxville Internet Crimes Against Children task force members to troll chat rooms in search of both purveyors and viewers of child pornography. Tom Evans, a veteran of the KICAC task force, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Michelle Patterson are listed as the lead investigators in Reagan's case.
Reagan confessed when confronted by Evans and Patterson in his Sevierville law office in March 2006. But authorities kept the case secret for more than two years. U.S. Attorney Russ Dedrick unveiled the case Thursday via a press release following the hearing before Phillips earlier that morning but did not address why his office cloaked it in secrecy.
Defense attorney Scott Green, who once practiced as a prosecutor before then-Judge Reagan, urged Phillips to forego a prison term.
"Ronald Reagan's life has been completely devastated by the choices he made back in March 2006," Green argued. "He is going to be disbarred. … He's going to be humiliated. His family is going to be humiliated."
Phillips declined.
"If no market existed (for child pornography), children would not be exploited in this manner," Phillips said.
The judge agreed, however, to honor Green's request that Reagan, who recently had a heart attack and underwent surgery as a result, be allowed to remain free pending the U.S. Bureau of Prisons' decision on where he will be incarcerated. Reagan will be subject to electronic monitoring until then.
Jamie Satterfield may be reached at 865-342-6308.
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 29 May 2010.
Warren Henry Baker obituary
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 29 Aug 2016.
January 8, 1949 - August 29, 2016
Resided in Seymour, TN
Ronald Ray Reagan, age 67, of Seymour, passed away Monday, August 29, 2016. He was a judge and an attorney in Sevier County for 40 plus years. Ron was an Air Force Veteran.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Wendi Michelle Reagan, parents Judge Ray L. Reagan and Martha L. Reagan.
Survivors:
Sons and daughter-in-law: Jason Reagan and wife Amy, Justin Reagan and fiancé Gretchen Sheets
Daughters and son-in-law: Lori Blankenship and husband Michael, Ashley Reagan and fiancé Max Carr
Grandchildren: Will Reagan, Matthew Reagan, and Gavin Sheets
Brother: Randy Reagan
Sisters and brothers-in-law: Charlene Phillips, Jan Todd and husband Anthony, Yvonne Williams and husband Scott.
Several nieces and nephews
The family will receive friends 4-6 PM Thursday with a celebration of life to follow from 6-8 PM at Atchley Funeral Home, Seymour. Graveside services and interment will be private. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Seymour 122 Peacock Court, Seymour, TN 37865 (577-2807). Online condolences may be made at www.atchleyfuneralhome.com
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1949 - 2016 (67 years)
, d. 24 Mar 1978 (Age 56 years) 
