Richard King - Repeat Sex Offender - Gets 13 year sentence

A Level 2 sex offender who was found guilty of six sex crimes on May 21 following his trial in Delaware County Court was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Monday.

Richard King, 57, of Delhi, was charged with two counts each of felony first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of child following incidents on July 20, 2008. He was accused of touching the crotch of an 11-year-old boy.

King turned down a negotiated plea deal in January in which he would plead guilty to attempted sexual abuse and receive a sentence of 11/2-to-3 years.

Delaware County Judge Carl Becker sentenced King to 61/2 years on each of the first-degree sexual abuse charges, to run consecutively, and one year on each of the other four charges, to run concurrently.

Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said King was previously classified as a Level 2 sex offender, and that despite completing his entire prison sentence, he was "unable to conduct himself in society after he was paroled.

"His victim was a very naive and trusting boy," Northrup added. "And even after luring the boy to an isolated spot, he invited a Level 3 sex offender to join them."

Northrup said the boy was traumatized.

"It's obvious he was affected by this," Northrup said, adding that King "deserved to be sentenced to the longest term in state prison the court can impose."

Nathan Garland, King's attorney, countered that the contact King had with the boy was "relatively minor _ it was over clothing and lasted for only seconds."

During a felony hearing in Delhi Town Court on July 24, 2008, the boy said he asked King to teach him a wrestling move. He said he had King in a headlock and King put his thumb under the child's chin to make him release the hold.

The boy said that during the wrestling move, King touched him in the crotch briefly. The boy added that King touched his crotch again while they were walking.

He said he kicked and punched King after the second incident.

King said Monday that the boy had not told the truth about the event. He said the investigators said the boy's story was inconsistent.

"At the felony hearing, there was yet another version and another version 10 months later at trial," King said. "Something is not right here. I say I stand before you today and innocent man."

Becker said, "I agree with you _ something is not right here. You had a premeditated course of conduct that culminated in getting the boy to the park that day.

"If I Googled ' sexual predator,' I would expect your face to come up," Becker added. "Your demeanor here today expresses no regret.

"It's the court's fault for letting evidence in; it's the jury's fault for not listening; it's the boy's fault for lying," Becker chided King.

"This was a premeditated series of events," Becker added. "You bought cigars, you bought beer and then you invited a friend over."

Terry A. Pitt, 41, of Delhi, is a convicted Level 3 sex offender who was charged with a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child in relation to King's case.

Northrup said Pitt pleaded guilty to the charge.

King was convicted of second-degree promoting prostitution and profiting from the prostitution of someone younger than 16 on March 9, 1992. The charges involved a 14-year-old girl.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte