GRID KID GUILTY OF SEX ASSAULT

One junior high school football player was arraigned on a felony sodomy charge and three others are accused of unlawful imprisonment in the sexual assault of another boy in their locker room after practice on October 21, 2003, at Fulton JHS. The four eighth-graders appeared in Oswego County Family Court. Three are accused of holding the victim down while he was abused by a 14 year old whose case was heard separately. He was ordered to comply with a home-tracking program and remains suspended from school at least through early next year. All four had been charged in petitions filed by Family Court with the adult equivalent of first-degree sodomy. They are all still charged with unlawful imprisonment, and also endangering the welfare of a child. Three also face a reckless-endangerment count.

Two of the football players have pleaded guilty to helping sexually molest the boy. The boys, ages 13 an 14, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of second-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, both misdemeanors. Sentencing was postponed for the two boys, who face the possibility of parole or time in a juvenile detention facility.

The 14 year old has admitted sexually molesting the boy and pleaded guilty to first degree unlawful imprisonment, a felony, and forcible touching, a misdemeanor.  Charges of sodomy, second degree reckless endangerment, second degree unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child were dropped in exchange for the teen's guilty plea.  He faces a range of punishments, from probation to foster care to juvenile detention.  

(Oswego, New York)