Larry Moulder appears electronically for a sentencing hearing held in Barren Circuit Court on Monday, March 28, 2022. Moulder was sentenced to serve life in prison for crimes he allegedly committed against a child.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — A Cave City man was officially sentenced to life in prison Monday for sexual crimes he allegedly committed against a child.
Larry J. Moulder, 56, was found guilty by a Barren County jury last December. He was convicted in a case where he was charged with first degree rape (victim under 12 years of age), first degree sexual abuse, first degree sodomy (victim under 12 years of age) and incest (victim under 12 years of age). The abuse was alleged between April 2018 and March 2019.
Judge John T. Alexander ruled Monday on motions submitted by Moulder’s counsel. One alleged a mistrial occurred and the other sought for his acquittal.
A potential juror had told the judge before the trial that they heard bailiffs discussing the charges brought against Moulder and “what should happen to somebody who gets charged with that.” That prospective juror was the only one who heard anything like that, apparently.
“I feel like inquiring of the remainder of the jurors present to see if any of them had heard anything similar to that, was satisfactory to alleviate any concerns you may have had about any other jurors hearing it,” Alexander said.
The prospective juror who brought the information to the judge’s attention was excused.
Another prospective juror discussed her desire to “penalize somebody pretty seriously for a sex offense against a child unless they were innocent,” the judge said.
She was not excused, however. The judge said she was instructed on a juror’s responsibility, and he believed she could remain “impartial.”
The defense also petitioned the court for a mistrial determination after the juvenile victim had apparently “changed the identity of the perpetrator to protect somebody.” The judge issued a limiting jury instruction to jurors, but that was denied by the defense counsel.
The defense counsel also alleged comments made by Moulder’s son during the trial introduced prejudice against him. He said his father “was in some trouble” while living at his home where the abuse was alleged. The judge said Moulder’s son became argumentative during the trial and questioned why the judge would not allow him to make those comments. The issue was resolved.
“He calmed down after just a few seconds,” Alexander said. “I don’t think it was a mistrial issue.”
The final sentencing included one life sentence. The jury recommended three sentences, but a judge may only issue one in Kentucky.
“I know that this was not the outcome that you wished to have, but it is the outcome that we got for the jury after we had our trial,” Alexander said. “I’m going to follow the jury’s direction on that. I wish you the best of luck, sir.”
Moulder began to ask the judge questions, but his attorney encouraged him to remain silent. The case is pending appeal.
