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WEST JORDAN β Three women shared stories of how they were abused by a businessman and administrator of a popular Facebook group for singles as he was being sentenced this week for charges in two counties. However, because of an error in paperwork, Judge Matthew Bates scheduled a new date for the sentencing next Friday.
Still, Bates allowed two women who did not want to wait to share their comments to speak about their experience with the man to a full courtroom on Friday; one said others in the audience were also victims of Linford.
A woman told the judge she had known Linford for a few months and thought he was trying to help her avoid a man who was saying inappropriate things to her when Linford asked her to dance and then brought her out of the room. But then she says he pressed her against a wall and assaulted her. I was so afraid," she said. She and her husband reported the assault to the police the next day, and she has waited for justice for seven years.
The woman said the experience changed her β she stopped wearing makeup, going out and dancing. She said she also has needed to see counselors and does not trust others. She said Linford deserves to be held accountable and have his freedom and rights taken away to be able to experience some of the trauma he caused her and many others.
