Special needs volunteer charged with sexual abuse - WDRB 41 Louisville - News, Weather, Sports Community

Special needs volunteer charged with sexual abuse

Posted: Updated:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A volunteer who works with special needs people has been indicted on sex abuse charges.

Ronelle Southerling is also charged with unlawful transaction with a minor.

Police say he tried to force a 19-year-old of slower mental capacity into oral sex, and then put his hands down the victim's pants.

We're told Southerling knew the teen through his job as a driver with Helping Hands, a Christian-based group that transports elderly and special needs people.

Southerling has pleaded not guilty.

Copyright 2012 WDRB News.  All Rights Reserved.

  • Closed Captioning

  • Thanks to a grant from Norton Healthcare, this story and others are available in real-time closed captioning on WDRB.
    Thanks to a grant from Norton Healthcare, this story and others are available in real-time closed captioning on WDRB.