MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL CONTACT WITH 12-YEAR-OLD

Newsday/Joseph Mallia

Michael Rich, a 71 year old wealthy Queens real estate mogul, was arrested in2007 at his Hamptons estate for allegedly molesting and assaulting a 12 year old girl.  Richwas charged with several counts of sexual abuse and one of endangering the welfare of achild.  Court documents charge that he fondled the girl at his home on August 16.  Afelony sex abuse charge stems from allegations he used force on the girl.  He was released on$10,000 bail.
Rich was convicted in 2008 of endangering the welfare of the girl by subjecting her tosexual contact.  He faces sentencing on September 26 on the charge, a class A misdemeanorpunishable by a maximum of a year in jail.  He was acquitted of two felony counts of firstdegree sexual abuse of the girl, involving forcible compulsion and a helpless victim; and twocounts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. 
(New York)