Child molester sentenced after victim's mother addresses the court

OXFORD – An Oxford man who admitted to molesting a 7-year-old girl appeared for sentencing at Chenango County Court this week and listened to the mother of his victim.

Richard M. Hathaway, 47, Oxford, pleaded guilty to first degree criminal sexual act, but had also been originally charged with first degree rape. Police investigators said the victim was forced into repeated sexual encounters over a period of time.



Hathaway was said to have cooperated with police and the Chenango County District Attorney’s office following his arrest.

Public Defender Alan Gordon said Hathaway waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to the crime because above all else he wished to avoid traumatizing the victim any further with testimony or additional interviews.

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Reader Response

1 comments on this story

wicvir
December 15th, 2007 at 8:49 am
He "wished to avoid traumatizing the victim any further"? I think it's a little late for worrying about this poor child's state of mind. He took a deal in exchange for a lesser sentence and that's the only reason he waived his right to a grand jury.
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