Sex offender gets six years in state prison
NORWICH – Convicted sex offender Tommy L. Kessinger Sr. – found guilty of felony first degree sexual abuse and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child in February – was sentenced to six years in state prison Monday in county court.
The 25-year-old Smyrna resident was indicted last April on the sex abuse and endangering charges, accused of inappropriately touching a then-four-year-old child after the child’s bath. Kessinger, at that time, was living with his girlfriend, Sonya Wilson, at her brother and his fiancee’s residence. According to Chenango County First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee, the two were babysitting Wilson’s four-year-old nephew at the time of the incident.
Kessinger was found guilty after a brief, two-day trial in the Chenango County Courthouse. The jury, on Feb. 22, returned with the verdict following just over an hour of deliberation.
Kessinger, added Dunshee, has been given “many opportunities to accept responsibility” for the crime, one the defendant “admitted in his own words.”
A key piece of evidence in the case against Kessinger was a 39-minute audio recording of his interview with Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Detective Kevin J. Powell, said the first assistant district attorney, portions of which were played for the jury. One day two of the trial, Powell testified that Kessinger – during the interview – not only waived his Miranda Rights, but admitted to the crime a total of 16 times.
On Monday, the victim’s grandfather, Michael Miller, addressed the court, calling Kessinger “a predator” and a potential repeat offender. The defendant had “never apologized,” he added, before asking the court for the maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.
According to Kessinger’s attorney, John Cameron, this was his client’s first sexual offense. He then stated his client had been victimized himself at a young age, two factors he asked the court to consider before sentencing.
Kessinger – who declined to testify at trial – made no statement yesterday.
Judge W. Howard Sullivan reminded Kessinger of the many opportunities he’s had to acknowledge and take responsibility for the incident and said he believed the convicted sex offender “took bad advice” and will now “have to pay for it,” in regards to the trial itself. Kessinger, he added, faces a “vicious cycle” and the sooner he “man-up and seek help,” the better.
“The sooner you do that, the sooner you will be safe to society,” said Sullivan.
In addition to the six-year state prison term, Kessinger will face ten years of post release supervision and must register as a sex offender once released. He has 30 days to file his notice of appeal if he wishes to appeal the court’s decision.
The 25-year-old Smyrna resident was indicted last April on the sex abuse and endangering charges, accused of inappropriately touching a then-four-year-old child after the child’s bath. Kessinger, at that time, was living with his girlfriend, Sonya Wilson, at her brother and his fiancee’s residence. According to Chenango County First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee, the two were babysitting Wilson’s four-year-old nephew at the time of the incident.
Kessinger was found guilty after a brief, two-day trial in the Chenango County Courthouse. The jury, on Feb. 22, returned with the verdict following just over an hour of deliberation.
Kessinger, added Dunshee, has been given “many opportunities to accept responsibility” for the crime, one the defendant “admitted in his own words.”
A key piece of evidence in the case against Kessinger was a 39-minute audio recording of his interview with Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Detective Kevin J. Powell, said the first assistant district attorney, portions of which were played for the jury. One day two of the trial, Powell testified that Kessinger – during the interview – not only waived his Miranda Rights, but admitted to the crime a total of 16 times.
On Monday, the victim’s grandfather, Michael Miller, addressed the court, calling Kessinger “a predator” and a potential repeat offender. The defendant had “never apologized,” he added, before asking the court for the maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.
According to Kessinger’s attorney, John Cameron, this was his client’s first sexual offense. He then stated his client had been victimized himself at a young age, two factors he asked the court to consider before sentencing.
Kessinger – who declined to testify at trial – made no statement yesterday.
Judge W. Howard Sullivan reminded Kessinger of the many opportunities he’s had to acknowledge and take responsibility for the incident and said he believed the convicted sex offender “took bad advice” and will now “have to pay for it,” in regards to the trial itself. Kessinger, he added, faces a “vicious cycle” and the sooner he “man-up and seek help,” the better.
“The sooner you do that, the sooner you will be safe to society,” said Sullivan.
In addition to the six-year state prison term, Kessinger will face ten years of post release supervision and must register as a sex offender once released. He has 30 days to file his notice of appeal if he wishes to appeal the court’s decision.
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