Gregory Dean Burton - Pedophile Monster cops a plea

A Bedford County Circuit Court judge convicted 36-year-old Gregory Dean Burton of 13 counts of forcible sodomy and one count of aggravated sexual battery this morning for sexually molesting six children over a period of five years.

Burton, a Bedford County resident, entered an Alford plea to those charges this morning, said Assistant Bedford County Commonwealth's Attorney Wes Nance. An Alford plea means Burton technically does not admit guilt but chooses not to risk a trial by jury.

The victims, four girls and two boys, were usually age 10 or under when Burton abused them, Nance said. The charges cover a time period from 2002 to July 2007, the prosecutor said.

Burton was arrested last August after an 11-year-old boy whom he had victimized observed him acting inappropriately toward younger children. The boy decided he wanted to put stop to the behavior and told a family member what had happened to him. Burton at first denied everything when questioned by investigators but later admitted to some of the acts he was accused of, Nance said.

At Burton's sentencing, scheduled for Sept. 30, he faces a maximum possible punishment of 13 life sentences plus 20 years.