Sex abuse case ends in jail time

Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said a plea bargain had been reached in which Seymour would plead guilty to two counts in full satisfaction of all the charges. The agreement called for a sentence of between three and seven years in prison.

Delaware County Judge Carl Becker said the first incident occurred in October 2000 in Deposit and the second in the fall of 2002 in the town of Colchester. At the time of his arrest, Seymour lived in Downsville.

Becker said both victims were under the age of 11.

Seymour originally told Becker he touched one girl because he was curious and not for sexual reasons.

Becker questioned whether he became sexually aroused, a condition of the charge.

"It was more out of curiosity. It's hard for me to talk about," Seymour told the judge.

Seymour's attorney, Terence O'Leary, asked the judge for a conference so he could discuss the charge with his client.

When Seymour returned to court, he told the judge he became sexually aroused when he touched both of his victims.

Seymour's sentencing was scheduled for April 28. He remains free on $10,000 bail.

In another case, Steven Shanholtzer, 20, of Bainbridge pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree grand larceny.

Northrup said he and David Roosa, Shanholtzer's attorney, reached a plea bargain in which Shanholtzer would plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of five years' probation with the first six months in jail.

Northrup said Shanholtzer is serving a sentence in Chenango County on related charges, and that Shanholtzer broke a liquor store window and stole liquor. Shanholtzer is also facing charges in Otsego County, where he is expected to be sentenced to drug court, Northup said.

Becker said Shanholtzer was charged for taking a camera valued at more than $1,000 and owned by Joan Tiska. About the Oct. 4 incident in Sidney that led to the charge, Shanholtzer said it was late in the evening and he was standing on someone's lawn when some people came along. He said he took the camera out of a car and told them that he was borrowing it for his aunt.

Before sentencing, Becker said, "There are now three courts in your life and three judges you are dealing with," Becker continued. "Everyone involved is trying to help you. But you are only going to get one chance from all of us."

Becker sentenced Shanholtzer to five years' probation with the first six months in the Delaware County jail.

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Patricia Breakey can be reached at (607) 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.