Mother of John Ault victim speaks out about sexual abuse of daughter

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – For the past two years, a Kentucky man has been representing himself in his own child sex abuse case, and just days ago John Ault pleaded guilty and now faces up to 10 years in prison.

LEX 18’s Kayleigh Randle spoke with the mother of one of his victims as she shared her daughter’s story for the first time.

63-year-old John Ault is a Kentucky man facing a 10-year prison sentence after several charges of child sex abuse. Ault was first arrested in 2019 in Lincoln County after police said he tried to meet a 12-year-old who eventually became an undercover officer. Ault was subsequently cast on Bond.

After his release, police say Ault brought a minor from Georgia to Kentucky and attempted to give her alcohol. That’s when Fayette County sheriff’s deputies arrested him. The minor was then returned to Georgia.

In Lincoln County, Ault was found guilty of possession/viewing of matter depicting sexual performance by a minor.

Ault was indicted in 2022 and has since represented himself in dozens of court hearings in Fayette County. He recently pleaded guilty to:

• First degree, Sodomy of a victim under 12 years of age
• First degree, Sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 12

• First degree, Incest of a victim under the age of 12

  All of these charges involve Fayette County. Ault faces up to 10 years in prison.

A mother of one of the victims has asked to remain anonymous for her and her daughter’s sake. “I wanted to make sure he went to prison because I didn’t want another child to lose his innocence because of him.”
She explains that she knew nothing about the abuse Ault inflicted on her daughter for years until Ault was charged.

“My daughter burst into tears and I looked at her and said what was wrong. She didn’t say anything and went to the bathroom,” she explains. ‘I didn’t ask anything. I didn’t know what to say. I called the police.’

When asked how she felt after learning about her daughter’s abuse, she explained, “Horrible because I felt like I had failed my daughter. would ever have thought.”

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, three in four adolescents are sexually abused by someone they know.

“I wanted to be 100% sure that I am there for my daughter. That I will make sure that if she needs something, she never has to talk to me about anything. But I want her to make sure that she is always with me can go.” whatever,” she emphasizes. “And she doesn’t have to worry about ‘Does my mom not believe me?’ “Is my mother there for me?” I never want her to feel that way.”

She says at least seven victims have shared their stories with police, but worries there may be more victims.

“There’s never a time frame on your healing. Once you tell your story and you can talk about how you feel and what happened to you, it takes a huge amount of relief from you. It lifts so much off your shoulders because victims of sexual abuse carry so much shame,” she explained. “And once you can tell your story and someone believes you or understands what you’ve been through and how you feel. It takes so much off your shoulders. So come forward. Don’t be afraid. He can.” I didn’t hurt you again.”

Ault is scheduled to be sentenced at noon on Tuesday, November 19, at the Fayette County Courthouse.

If you or someone you know has or is experiencing sexual abuse, please call this hotline at 1(800) 656-4673.

You can also visit their website to chat with a provider if you don’t like calling.