NORWICH – Three sex offenders with child victims appeared in Chenango County Court; one was sentenced, another arraigned, and a third’s risk level was assessed.
• Jeremy F. Courtney, 31 of Oxford, was indicted on Oct. 16, 2014 for criminal sexual act in the first degree, a class B felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
It is alleged on a day between the period of January through March of 2007, at a residence in the City of Norwich, Courtney did have a 5-year-old female victim perform an oral sexual act on him.
On Feb. 6, Courtney pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of criminal sexual act in the second degree, a class D felony.
First Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese said a reduced charge was given to Courtney after taking into consideration his minimal criminal history, the fact that the incident “happened a long time ago” and the additional fact that it was an “isolated incident.”
“The most important factor is that he took full responsibility,” added Ferrarese.
The First ADA said another factor was that there was not a lot of evidence in the case, because it happened so many years ago and the victim did not want to participate and wanted to move on with her life.
Ferrarese said Courtney's behavior since the incident is evidence that the crime was out of character. He also said Courtney will spend some time in jail and “be watched for 10 years.”
“I believe it is a just sentence,” said Ferrarese.
Courtney's lawyer, Scott J. Clippinger, said, “I find myself in the uncomfortable position of agreeing with Mr. Ferrarese.”
Clippinger said his client is a productive citizen, employed and supports his family. “This does not reflect his character, and his behavior since the incident has shown it's not going to happen again,” he added.
Regarding Courtney's incarceration, Ferrarese said, “We were willing to work with the defendant to make sure he stays employed. He has been employed for a long time at the same company.”
Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. agreed with Ferrarese and Clippinger. He said the sentence was issued based upon the facts and Courtney's history since the incident.
“It's a very favorable disposition,” said Revoir.
Courtney was sentenced to a split sentence of four consecutive weekends of intermittent incarceration at the Chenango County Correctional Facility starting in February, followed by 10 years probation less time spent incarcerated. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and have his risk level assessed.
A full order of protection was issued for the victim until February of 2023.
• Leslie Kenyon, 45 of Smithville, was indicted on Jan. 21 for failure to register or verify as a sex offender, a class E felony.
It is alleged on Nov. 5, 2014 in the Town of Smithville, Kenyon did fail to register with the Sex Offender Unit of the Division of Criminal Justice Services within 10 calendar days after changing his address from 107 Scribner Lane in Smithville, to 111 Cyprus Road in Greene, as of Dec. 22, 2014.
Kenyon was released on his own recognizance by the Town of Smithville Court.
Kenyon was also recently charged with a misdemeanor violation of probation and appeared in Norwich City Court on Jan. 27.
According to Judge James E. Downey, Kenyon allegedly – against the conditions of his probation– did not register his Facebook account and had pornographic images and conversations on his cell phone as well.
Kenyon pleaded not guilty.
Second Assistant District Attorney Thomas Bowen requested a $1,000 bail, because he said according to Kenyon's recent felony indictment, “we don't know if he can stay where he is supposed to.”
Kenyon said it is not true that he cannot stay where he is supposed to and does not want to go to jail, because “his father is in the ICU and he doesn't know if he is going to make it.”
Downey released Kenyon on his own recognizance.
Kenyon was arraigned on Feb. 6 in Chenango County Court for the class E felony of failing to register or verify as a sex offender.
Kenyon pleaded not guilty.
According to Ferrarese, Kenyon's underlying sex offense was sexual abuse in the first degree, a class C felony, and the victim was a four-year-old female.
“The defendant was indicted for failing to register, faces state prison and could be a flight risk,” said Ferrarese.
Ferrarese requested bail in the amount of $5,000.
Kenyon's public defender, John D. Cameron, said the Greene address is a mobile home owned by Kenyon's sister and that his client is not going anywhere.
Kenyon said he is still living at the Smithville address and was living there with his father, before his father went into the hospital.
Revoir continued Kenyon's ROR status set by the local court and told Kenyon he is not to live with or have contact with anyone under the age of 18 years old.
Kenyon is to reappear in court at a later date.
• Charles C. Moran, 61, is a convicted sex offender who recently moved to Chenango County in August of 2014. Because he is required by law to register in the county he resides, his sex offender risk level was assessed in Chenango County Court on Feb. 2.
Moran was convicted of sodomy in the first degree, a class A felony, on Oct. 25, 1999 and sexual abuse in the first degree, a class C felony, on Oct. 29, 1999 in the state of Alabama.
According to Revoir there were two victims, one victim per charge.
Moran was sentenced to 15 years of incarceration for the sodomy charge and 10 years of incarceration for the sexual abuse charge. The sentences ran concurrently in an Alabama state prison.
Moran was released from prison on Aug. 6, 2014 and relocated to New York after his release.
Revoir said the risk level report assessed Moran with a score of 75, which is a risk level II or a moderate risk of repeat offense.
Revoir also said Moran was scored as a level II due to the sodomy charge.
Ferrarese requested Revoir not deviate from the report and register Moran as level II sex offender.
Revoir said he would make a written decision at a later date.