Mountaire manager sentenced for rape

A former security and facility manager for Mountaire Farms will serve 13 years in prison for rape and sexual harassment of Mountaire Farms employees.

Ronald F. Tate, 54, of Lincoln was arrested July 26, 2011, and charged with 14 counts of second-degree rape without consent, two counts of sexual extortion, three counts of third-degree unlawful sexual contact and sexual harassment.

Delaware State Police Cpl. Bruce Harris said police began investigating Tate July 14, 2011. Several women working at the Mountaire Farms facility near Millsboro said they were sexually harassed or had unwanted sexual encounters with Tate.

Harris said two women told investigators they were sexually assaulted in his office at Mountaire; two other women said Tate inappropriately touched parts of their bodies which made them feel uncomfortable while he was acting in his official capacity as the plant security manager.

Tate pleaded guilty to two felony counts of rape, one felony count of sexual extortion and two misdemeanor counts of unlawful sexual contact, Sept. 19.

Judge E. Scott Bradley sentenced Tate on Oct. 26; he will serve a combined 13 years at Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown.  After he is released, Tate is subject to another 11 years of probation.

Tate will also appear on the sex offender registry as a Tier 2 sex offender.  He must complete sexual disorders counseling, and he is ordered to have no contact with any of the four women involved in the case.

Tate will also have to pay restitution and fees totaling more than $20,000.