A Chandler man convicted by a jury in February of this year of committing four crimes against a minor has been handed two life sentences and two other 25-year prison terms as well.
At sentencing recently, Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk stated, “After reviewing the report (Pre-Sentence Investigation) and arguments the Court indicates it will follow the recommendations of the jury.”
The jury’s recommendations for John Joshua Bonner, 46, was two life terms without the possibility of parole on Counts 1 and 2. The judge also added court costs on each charge.
The life terms were for two counts of first degree rape.
The jury also recommended that Bonner serve not less than 25 years each on the other two charges.
Judge Kirk, again following the jury’s recommendation, sentenced Bonner to two 25-year terms in the custody of the Department of Corrections and court costs on each of two counts of lewd acts to a child under 12 years of age.
The judge ordered the life sentences in Counts 1 and 2 are to run concurrent with each other and consecutive to counts 3 and 4. Counts 3 and 4 are to run concurrent with each others and consecutive to counts 1 and 2.
Assistant District Attorney Kelly Trimble, who prosecuted the case, said after the sentencing, “The District Attorney’s Office is very thankful that Judge Kirk followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced the Defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole so that another child molester is off the streets and the victim can continue to heal.”
At sentencing, Trimble and Assistant DA Rachel Thompson represented the state and Bonner was represented by his attorney Shelley Levisay.
A woman who was also charged in the case entered a blind plea in 2023 and is currently doing three lengthy prison sentences.
Four felony charges originally were filed in Lincoln County District Court April 4, 2022 against Angela Renee Gordon, 42, and four felony counts were filed the same day against Bonner.
On the second day of her jury trial in February of 2023, Gordon announced she wished to enter a blind plea. A judge advised Gordon of her rights and that the charges are 85 percent crimes.
Court records show that Gordon was standing trial on two counts of lewd acts to a child under 12 and one for enabling child abuse.
Gordon entered blind pleas of guilty, the pleas were received by the judge and Gordon was found guilty as charged.
Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Thompson and Lori McConnell handled Gordon’s case for the state and Gordon was represented by Patrick Thompson.
Gordon was originally charged with sexual abuse of a child under 12, lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, performing a lewd act in the presence of a minor and enabling child sexual abuse.
The information states the crimes occurred between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2015.
The information in Bonner’s charg s accused him of committing the crimes during the same time as G o r d o n ’ s charges. It also stated Bonner was 39 at the time those crimes were committed.
The crimes that Gordon and Bonner were convicted of occurred in a house in Chandler in Lincoln County, the information states.
The victim of the alleged criminal offenses was 8 at the time.