|
WASHINGTON COUNTY---A former member of the Lake George Park Commission and past town board member for the northern Washington County town of Dresden, charged with sexually abusing three young girls, has pleaded guilty and will avoid any jail time in the case.
Thomas Wood, 70, of Clemons, had been indicted last July on 25 charges which accused him of sexually abusing three young girls over seven years of age, including while he was serving on the town board.
He had faced 13 counts of first degree sexual abuse, all felonies; and 12 misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child.
He pleaded guilty to one felony count of sexual abuse, admitting that he forcibly touched the chest area of a teenage girl last spring in Dresden.
In the plea deal, Wood will avoid any jail time and will likely be sentenced to 10 years of probation which will including mandatory sex offender treatment.
He is free on bail pending sentencing on March 16 and cannot have any contact with the girls.
The investigation of Wood began early last year when State Police received complaints about him and charged him with a misdemeanor for allegedly kissing a 9-year-old girl.
The allegations involved a swimming pool at Wood's home and police said that he allowed town children to use the pool. According to the indictment, the three girls, ranging in age from 9 to 17, claimed that Wood fondled their breasts, buttocks or genitalia between 1999 and last April. They came forward after Wood's first arrest.
Most of the alleged incidents occurred while he was serving on the town board. He had served multiple terms as a councilman until he was defeated in 2005.
Wood had maintained his innocence, saying that he might have accidentally touched them at times but did not fondle them on purpose. 2-16-07
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed by anyone without the express written permission of the publisher. This article is copyright protected.
© 2007 North
Country Gazette
|
