Catoosa Man Sentenced In Child Molestation Case

A Rogers County man received 20 years in a child molestation case involving six victims, according the Rogers County District Attorney's Office.

Authorities say Joe Cheater, who at one time claimed to be a youth minister, accepted a plea agreement and will serve 85 percent of his sentence with probation for life.

"This resolution was reached with the victims in mind," said Assistant District Attorney Sean McConnell.

10/10/2011 Related Story: Catoosa Youth Pastor Arrested On Sex Crimes Against Children

"The majority of the victims were ready to have their involvement in the cases finished. Quite simply, they wanted to move on with their lives without further trauma from testifying."

Sheriff Scott Walton said the incidents all took place when Cheater was living in the former Lake Valley Mobile Home Park in Catoosa from 2005 to 2008. The park has now been closed.

Investigators say the girls were all friends of Cheater's children and it may have happened when they were spending the night in his home.