NKyTribune Staff
Two men convicted in separate incidents involving sexual assault against minors will serve long prison terms after being sentenced in Kenton County earlier this month.
Robbie Whaley of Elsmere was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after he was convicted of multiple sexual assault counts and was identified as a Persistent Felony Offender.
Alphie Compton of Bromley was sentenced to 30 yeas in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting two minors over a period of several years. The victims testified that Compton repeatedly assaulted them and threatened to kill them if they told anyone.
The Kenton Commonwealth Attorney’s office released the following statements regarding the arrest and conviction of Whaley and Compton:
Whaley
In January 2015, the Elsmere Police Department received a report of a sexual assault that occurred at 1113 Garvey Avenue in Elsmere. The minor victim disclosed being repeatedly assaulted by Robbie Whaley who lived at the residence.
Whaley had invited the victim to his house for lessons in martial arts, which is how he gained access to assault the victim. The Elsmere Police Department, led by Detective Dennis McCarthy began the investigation into the case.
Through the course of the investigation, officers identified another minor victim who stated he was similarly assaulted by Whaley at Whaley’s house. The second victim also stated he was supposed take martial arts training there, but instead was sexually assaulted. The second victim also disclosed repeated sexual assaults by Whaley.
The case was presented to the Kenton County Grand Jury on October 8, 2015, and the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Whaley with eight counts of Sodomy in the Third Degree, one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and with being a Persistent Felony Offender in the First Degree.
While awaiting trial on those charges, Whaley was released on bond. Shortly after his release, the Elsmere Police Department received a new report of a sexual assaults involving two more minor victims. By this time, Detective McCarthy had retired from police work. The new investigation was undertaken by Elsmere Police Detective Anthony Embry. His investigation ultimately led to an indictment for additional charges against Whaley.
On October 13, 2016, the Kenton County Grand Jury returned an indictment for seven additional counts against Whaley. Those counts included three counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, Victim under 12, and foour counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Victim under 12.
On May 9, a jury was empaneled in the First Division of the Kenton Circuit Court before Judge Kathleen Lape. The Commonwealth was represented by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Lawrence Hilton and Maria Schletker. Each of the four victims testified regarding the sexual assaults that were perpetrated on them by Whaley. The Commonwealth also presented evidence from a forensic search of the Defendant’s computer conducted by Detective Steve Kush of the Campbell County Police Department. Other witnesses included Dr. Berkeley Bennett from the Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center and both Detective McCarthy and Detective Embry.
After deliberating approximately seven hours, the jury returned a verdict finding Whaley guilty of three counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, Victim under 12, four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Victim under 12, six counts of Sodomy in the Third Degree, two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Victim under 16, and one count of Criminal Attempt to Commit Sodomy in the Third Degree.
During the sentencing phase of trial, the Commonwealth presented testimony from Meredith Miller from the Department of Probation and Parole who testified to the Defendant’s criminal history. After approximately 30 minutes, the jury returned a verdict finding the Defendant guilty of being a Persistent Felony Offender in the First Degree and recommended a sentence of life in prison, without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
The case was called before the court again for formal, final sentencing on July 11, 2017. After hearing arguments from both parties, Judge Lape followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Whaley to Life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
Compton
On January 24, 2016, the Ludlow Police Department received a report of a sexual assault against a minor. Detective Sgt. Eric Love from the Ludlow Police Department led the investigation into the sexual assaults. The victim identified Alphie Compton as the perpetrator.
Over the course of the investigation, it was determined Compton had repeatedly sodomized and sexually abused the minor victim from the time she was 6 years old until she was approximately 12-13 years old.
During the investigation, Detective Sgt. Love and the Ludlow Police Department were able to identify a second victim of Compton. The second victim was repeatedly raped by Alfie Compton between the ages of 13-18 years old.
The sexual assaults of both victims occurred in Ludlow and Bromley, in Kenton County. After sexually assaulting the minors, Compton threated to kill them if they disclosed the abuse. He also drove them to Devou Park where he said he would leave their bodies if they ever reported him to police. For years neither minor victim told anyone about the abuse for fear of those threats. The sexual assaults were eventually disclosed by one of the minor victims after Compton physically assaulted her in January, 2016.
On June 23, 2016, the Kenton County Grand Jury indicted Compton on multiple counts of sexual assault crimes, including two counts of sodomy in the first degree, one count of sexual abuse in the first degree, and one count of rape in the first degree. On April 11, 2017, a jury was empaneled for the trial of Alfie Compton. The Commonwealth was represented by Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys Maria Schletker and Lawrence Hilton. The Commonwealth presented the testimony of both victims, one of whom is still a minor. The victims testified about the repeated sexual assaults perpetrated by Compton. They each testified about their fear of Compton because of his threats to kill them. Detective Sgt. Love testified regarding the investigation. Other witnesses presented by the Commonwealth included Dr. Anderson, a physician with the Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center, and family members of the victim who corroborated the events surrounding the sexual assaults.
The jury deliberated approximately three and a half hours before finding Compton guilty on all counts. After more testimony and deliberations, the jury recommended a sentence of 30 years to serve.
On July 10, 2017, the case was called again for formal, final sentencing. After hearing arguments from both parties, Judge Bartlett followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Compton to 30 years in prison.
Office of Kenton Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders
