Men plead guilty in separate cases before trial

A Marion County man who confessed to sexually abusing two different girls nearly 20 years ago and a Red Bay man accused of trying to kill his live-in girlfriend in February of 2010 pleaded guilty before their cases were set to go to trial this past week, officials said.
Quinnon William Riddle, 47, 2559 Marion 62, Haleyville, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse; and Joey Dewayne Keeton, 30, 512 Fourth Street, Red Bay, entered an open plea to one count of second-degree domestic violence Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.
According to reports, Riddle was first arrested this past June when investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation learned about Riddle’s history of sexual abuse through an on-going investigation in a separate county.
When Riddle was first questioned, reports showed that during an interview by the FCSO and the ABI, Riddle confessed to fondling at least two different girls between the ages of six and eight on multiple occasions in the last 20 years.
Riddle was also reported as saying he was a “sexual predator” but changed his statement to say he was “more of an opportunist” when asked how he would label himself.
Rushing said Riddle was sentenced to six years for each count of first-degree sexual abuse and the sentences would run consecutively.
According to reports, Keeton was first arrested in February 2010 after an altercation where he reportedly threw his live-in girlfriend onto the bed, hit her in the face and tried to shoot her.
Keeton entered into an open plea and will be set for sentencing on March 13 where Rushing said the victim in the case is expected to testify.
Second-degree domestic violence is a Class B felony that can be punishable by up to 20 years in prison.