CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Bradley County prosecutors say Glen D. Keller likely will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to raping a 16-year-old girl.
“He’s 70 years old; the likelihood of him making it 10 years in prison is slim to none,” said Assistant District Attorney Stephen Hatchett.
Mr. Keller, initially charged with rape of a child, pleaded guilty to rape on Monday. District Attorney Steven Bebb said the plea was a reduced charge.
Mr. Hatchett said the plea meant the victim and her sisters, who also were molested, would not have to testify.
Investigators found that the assaults happened between 2005 and December 2008, Mr. Hatchett said. Records showed that Mr. Keller would pick up the girls, ages 11, 12 and 16, on Lead Mine Valley Road to ride horses and four-wheelers.
Mr. Keller separated the oldest sister, raped her, and threatened to harm her siblings if she told, Mr. Hatchett said. He molested the younger sisters and said he would kill the farm animals he had given them as pets if they told, Mr. Hatchett said.
“People in that area refused to believe that he did this,” Mr. Hatchett said. “It’s one of the worst cases I’ve ever worked.”
Since the investigation began, three more girls have reported being molested by Mr. Keller, Mr. Hatchett said.
Mr. Keller’s attorney, G. Scott Kanavos, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.