Plea offer extended to Rome man charged with sexual contact of 6 and 8 year old boys

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Plea offer extended to Rome man charged with sexual contact of 6 and 8 year old boys

By MEGAN KOSKOVICH

Story Created: Mar 3, 2008 at 11:24 AM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 3, 2008 at 12:11 PM EDT

UTICA - A Rome man charged with sexual contact with a child must decide whether to accept a plea deal.

Phillip King plead not guilty on the charges in court today. He's accused of inappropriately touching a six and eight year old boy.

The Oneida County District Attorney's office extended a plea deal to King, who will be back in court on March 18 to either accept or reject that deal.

Wednesday, Mar 5 at 9:26 PM Family member of the boys wrote ...

Freind you are so wrong about these boys.They suffered a great loss early in life .It was recommanded that this person help the older boy out at first then the younger one.Both boys were having problems in school after they started spending time with Mr.King.As a person who works with children that are sex offenders many have been offended themselves talk about how the abuser threatens to kill them or hurt their family members and that is what this sick person did to these boys.

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 8:12 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I hope the media plans to attend his March 18 hearing...and that they continue to follow up on this. Maybe a call to the school district. I hope parents are aware of this and that this information is being put out their for them to see and read. We need to protect our children - and the children of our community.

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 8:00 PM Rome wrote ...

Though I think a plea is too kind an act for him I do beleive that a plea is offered at times to save the children from having to re live the incident over and over. At this time those little boys have probably had to talk to many people - how awful for them. As far as him working in the school district - yep sure is interesting how he was employeed there and then one day gone without a word. The school district should step up and let parents know if it was related to anything inappropriate.

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 2:27 PM a mother and victim wrote ...

I to was molested as a child-growing up. Back then people didn't talk about things like that. I thank God I am a well adjusted person, but these kids may not be so lucky. I say put the person behind bars for life, not just years.

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 2:01 PM American wrote ...

Maybe they offered the plea deal because they cannot prove he did it. In The United States of America, you have to Prove someone did a crime before you can Punish them for that crime. (And you only get one chance, you cannot be tried twice for the same crime.) If there is a risk that he might walk a free man, maybe offering him a shorter sentence will get him out of society and away from children.

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 9:52 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Did the kids get a "plea deal" before they were molested?? This is a sick sad community when a child molester gets a deal and the kids end up twisted for life. God bless America.

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 9:24 AM concerned wrote ...

This man also worked as a special education teacher assistant in the Rome School District. There were many instances that some staff thought were strange and inappropriate, with the way he was with some children. He worked with autistic children, they are easy prey for a sick man like this, especially the non-verbal children. One week he was still employed and the next he was released from his duties, coincidence? I think not!

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 7:53 AM Anonymous wrote ...

This dirtbag is a friend of your family. How many times has he molested your child if you have one. They first make themself a friend to the family so the family won't believe the child. That is how they prey on young children, first befriend the family and then do nice things for the children so they wont tell. These are your children, for heaven sake keep these people away from them. When a man befriends a family where there are young children, Ash yourself "WHY"

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 7:13 AM Concerned Roman wrote ...

I am not trying to judge anyone but I am concerned that a plea bargin is being offered to a sex offender. What type of message does that send to other offenders? With all the sex offenders we have in our prisons in this area, have we not learned a lesson. Most of them are antisocial personality disorders. Please keep them off the streets and keep the streets safe for young innocent children.Parents BEWARE!

Monday, Mar 3 at 6:12 PM RE: friend wrote ...

Friend - do you think your friend would actually tell you what he was doing or had done? open your eyes, child molestors walk around in plain site - many never getting caught. Your friend got caught and I hope you rethink your friends. It is very hard to get an arrest in cases like these so when one happens you know that the law has done its homework.

Monday, Mar 3 at 5:22 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I can sort of understand you defending someone you call a friend to your family BUT can you imagine being the families and friends of those little boys? Do you think you are the first person to think their friend would never do something like that - I am sure the police did their job and investigated well before they arrested him.

Monday, Mar 3 at 5:09 PM Rome Citizen wrote ...

Did it ever occur to you that maybe he chose children who had trauma already in their lives as easy targets. I trust in Law enforcement and that they have investigated this very well and that is why he was arrested to begin with. Law enforecement doesn't arrest on one persons word alone - there must be evidence. He used the fact that he was in a position where people would trust him and violated that trust - he did work with little kids in the Rome schools, right?

Monday, Mar 3 at 5:04 PM RE: Friend (2) wrote ...

Listen... He may be close to your family or whatever you want to state but the bottom line is this. If he did it the consequences wont be near what they should be. This man is innocent until proven guilty thats the way we work it here, but lets see what happens with this plea deal. If he takes the plea deal "friend" then I think he answers our allegations of being a sick perverted individual and makes you re-think your close "friend of your family" Penalties need to be stronger for these cases

Monday, Mar 3 at 4:07 PM Anonymous wrote ...

by the way your writing is incoherent.

Monday, Mar 3 at 3:06 PM bill wrote ...

To friend - Did it ever occur to you that those are the type of kids that sex offenders target. The ones you wouldn't believe because they're already messed up and what is the whole story anyway? You seem to know. Many sex offenders live normal lives and dupe their friends. They seem cordial and willing to help. How many times have we heard "I never would have guessed it". Wake up friend@!!!

Monday, Mar 3 at 2:46 PM American wrote ...

In The United States of America, you are innocent until proven guilty. Prove it, then punish.

Monday, Mar 3 at 1:34 PM Re: FRIEND!! wrote ...

Are you seriously joking?!!! What did you do something like this to a kid to ok this man is not innocent! Are you saying that the kids are lying?! Give me a break. Go away with you oh you don't know him statements. This man no coward belongs in jail! And so do you!

Monday, Mar 3 at 1:24 PM Sick and tired wrote ...

Okay why is it that these scumbags only get 3 to 5 years in jail and have to register as a sex offender? How is that fair when, let say someone robs someones house and they can get more time than people like this?! The law is a joke! It is not fair. This scumbag should be killed ruining these poor kids lives. But hey I am sure that all he will get is a slap on the hand since our justice system IS SO GOOD!

Monday, Mar 3 at 1:05 PM angry citizen wrote ...

There should be NO plea bargains for these sick perverted individuals!!! Remember their victims weren't given any chance to plea bargain the life sentence they now have to live with. We have to start protecting our children!!!!!!

Monday, Mar 3 at 12:56 PM friend wrote ...

This man is a close friend to my family. None of you know him and only know what you hear or read in the news. This man has done nothing but help troubled children most of his life. For someone to say "hang him" without knowing the whole story is an example of outright ignorance. Did it ever occur to anyone that the kids were alredy messed up, and dont realize the severity of thier allagations. Think before you speak or post comments.

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