Mineola, Texas is a typically small conservative U.S. town, filled with more than 30 churches. But what prosecutors say happened in that rural hamlet is anything but typical. In fact, it's more like something out of a nightmare.
As the trial of Patrick Kelly (top left) begins this week at the local courthouse, it revives memories of a terrible taint the place with a population of just 5,100 may never live down. He's accused of participating in a "show" that used drugs and the innocence of children to have them perform sexual acts in front of adults.
And these aren't rumours. Prosecutors have already put two people away for life in the disturbing case, and now Kelly, one of six accused, will get his day in court.
The case began when investigators discovered something strange going on in the windowless rooms of the local daycare centre. Authorities say those behind the scheme would give five youngsters - including three siblings, ages 12, 10 and 7 - powerful Vicodin painkillers the kids knew as "silly pills" to drive down their inhibitions and resistance.
They would then be told to stage sex shows once a week for the 50-100 people who gathered inside the brightly coloured yellow building. Residents were aware there was a so-called "swingers" club in town, and looked on with a kind of live-and-let-live disgust.
But no one knew there were children involved.
The "shows" went on for at least a year, before one of the girls told their foster mother about dancing with men, while another child giggled innocently that "everybody does nasty stuff in there." Cops began investigating, discovered the disgusting truth and the place was immediately shut down.
It took a jury less than five minutes to find the original duo charged in this case guilty. Both were given life sentences. Prosecutors are hoping Kelly's trial is just as swift.
The 41-year-old has pleaded not guilty in the shocking crime and claims a polygraph proves he's telling the truth. He's charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, tampering with physical evidence and engaging in organized criminal activity.
In a horrifying coda to this case, the siblings involved were given over to a foster family after the abuse, and now their new stepfather has been charged with sexually assaulting a child in California 18 years ago. He also proclaims his innocence.
In the meantime, the small town where everyone knows everyone else is still trying to recover from the terrible scandal. The scene of the crime has been purchased and the new owners are planning to turn it into yet another church.
But whether congregants will flock to a place with such a tarnished reputation is far from certain. "You got to decide whether you're willing to forgive those kind of things," Rev. Tim Letsch concedes. "It's a hard deal. Especially for a spiritual person to walk in and say, 'This happened here.'"
Photo courtesy: Smith County Sheriff's Office