Babysitter accused of sexual abuse tries to fire his public defender

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Babysitter accused of sexual abuse tries to fire his public defender

By DAVID DELLECESE

Story Created: Mar 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM EST

Story Updated: Mar 26, 2008 at 1:30 PM EST

UTICA - A Utica man accused of sexually abusing a six year old girl was in court this morning, where he told Judge Michael Dwyer that he wanted to fire his public defender, and represent himself.

Michael Chicherchia rejected a plea deal earlier this month, and faces felony charges of sexual assault on a child who he was babysitting.

The judge told Chicherchia that if he could afford his own attorney, he could get one. Otherwise, the public defender is what he gets.

He could get up to 25 years in prison if convicted. He returns to court for a hearing on April 30 to determine if a police statement was taken illegally.

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Tuesday, Jun 24 at 6:33 PM anonymous wrote ...

This guy was a neighbor of mine, and just speaking to him for 5 minutes,you could tell he was a sick, perverted individual and I also blame the mother for this.Because of her wanting to go out for her birthday her daughter has to suffer for the rest of her life. Anyone who knows this man or just listens to him would know what I mean. All our neighbors had "BAD VIBES" around him and we all we right!!!! ROT IN JAIL!!!!Prayers go out to that little Baby!!!!!!

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Tuesday, Jun 24 at 6:32 PM Nana to 9 wrote ...

According to this article, he admitted he was ashamed of what he did by "touching" the little 6 year old. That's enough for me to "assume" his guilt. BUT - on the otherhand, I don't blame him for wanting to fire his Public Defender as they ALL are worthless.

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Wednesday, Apr 30 at 10:06 PM CO wrote ...

going to prison along time for what? what else did he do?

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Monday, Apr 14 at 10:09 PM anon wrote ...

mom: this is a little old, I didnt check back til now ... but you show me where it says ANYTHING about dna evidence, and then I'll listen to you. Until then you're just proving my point.

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Saturday, Mar 29 at 7:46 PM mom wrote ...

annon, there IS dna from medical exams so get your stories straight! If you think he is go great, why dont u take care of him, and have him leave LITTLE GIRLS alone!

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Saturday, Mar 29 at 9:59 AM anon wrote ...

mom; noone mentioned anything about DNA evidence, according to previous articles, the only evidence is the coerced confession and the hearsay of the mother. You should be banned from jury duty for your stupid irrational mentality.

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Friday, Mar 28 at 2:45 AM mom wrote ...

There must be significant evidence against this person or he would not have been arrested! Little girls are the innocent ones not the MONSTER who hurt them. After all DNA results dont lie. This man is a poor excuse for a human being! Hopefully I DO get on this jury! ANYONE who thinks this man is innocent must be a FRIEND of his, So let him go after little girls and still say he is innocent until proven guilty That sickens me. Why would a 6 year old lie about something like this!

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 9:11 PM Stacey wrote ...

I find it amazing that everyone is jumping the gun and assuming that he is guilty until proven innocent. It's supposed to be the other way around people. People are falsely accused and wrongfully convicted all the time. Everyone needs to get off their high horses and stop passing judgement until they have all of the facts, which none of us have. I hope none of you ever get picked for jury duty.

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 3:14 PM cheeks wrote ...

let him defend himself how far would he get representing himself and for the comment bout the mother noone knows what a person is like so dont blame the mother this guy is sick

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 1:58 PM justice wrote ...

What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? All the comments I see here have him convicted or assumed guilty. Nothing has been proven yet.

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 11:26 AM Annoymous wrote ...

Who cares if he defends himself or not. As long has he is punished for the crime, and he should receive a death sentence. So should all those sick individuals who prey on small children. Everyone get their heads out of the clouds and elect officals who will make stricter punishments for these deprieved criminals.

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 11:21 AM Mom wrote ...

"This person, no matter what he has done, deserves a decent public defender and a fair trial" .... until it happens to YOUR daughter.

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 10:27 AM Santina wrote ...

His crime is unforgivable. He took away her innocence forever. He needs to be put away forever. Spend the rest of his life in prison, that is if no one gets to him first.

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 10:15 AM anonimus wrote ...

Civil Liberties has it wrong about public defenders. they have heavy caseloads and most defend the public to the best of their abilities. There may be some who are incompetent but there are also some private attorneys who are incompetent as well. My heart goes out to the victim.

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 7:13 AM A Father wrote ...

Hand him over to a group of fathers who have little girls...see what kind of justice he gets...

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 4:49 AM Discusted wrote ...

What about the poor innocent child? Where do HER rights play in this? Afterall she is the one who has to live with this the rest of her life!! Hang him, He knows better than to take advantage of a LITTLE GIRL!!!!! He Sickens me and should have the same punishment and hurt HE HAS NO RIGHTS!! HE is a Pig and deserves NOTHING!!!!!!

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 9:36 PM wtwj wrote ...

The comments made by civil liberties is disturbing at least. Granted, we are all protected by our constitutional right to due process,but there will always be a self intrest group to stand up and be heard. Our society has become blinded by the "This could never happen to me or my family" attitude. Crimes such as this are a cancer,silently spreading without without knowing what the outcome may be. We need to stand up for our rights,and let our thoughts be heard.

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 9:26 PM ANONYMOUS wrote ...

WHO CARES WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS A DEFENDER OR REPRESENTS HIMSELF , IN THE END...HE WILL GET WHAT IS COMING TO HIM AND EVERYTHING HE DESERVES. IF HE IS TRUELY GUILTY...HE WILL BURN!!!!!!!!

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 7:14 PM Re: Civil Liberties wrote ...

What about that 6 yr old little girl's innocence???

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 6:19 PM truth wrote ...

i think the mother should get in trouble for having him "babysit" so she can go out and party. when you have kids it should be all about them never mind dirnking anymore spend that time with your kids. he should get what is comming to him in jail!

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 4:50 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Truely, look at it in the six year olds perspective, living the rest of her life knowing what happened to her by this worthless person! I concure to everyones statements, and say he pays for this!

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 4:46 PM Civil Liberties wrote ...

In our society, the presumption is innocent until proven guilty, and get a fair hearing. That's our Constitution. Even then, the innocent are wrongly convicted and either jailed for decades or put to death. This person, no matter what he has done, deserves a decent public defender and a fair trial. There are SERIOUS issues with indigent defense in our society- the public defenders are often incompetent and do not do an even minimally adequate job. Stand for our Constitution, stand for humanity.

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 3:42 PM CARING FATHER wrote ...

LET THE MAN DEFEND HIMSELF IN THE COURT ...AFTER ALL WHAT KIND OF MENTALITY DOES THIS GUY HAVE AFTER DOING WHAT HE DID ALLOW HIMSELF TO FACE A TRAIL BY JURY ALLOW THIS DEVIANT PREDATOR PLAY GAMES WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM BECAUSE WITH OUT A DOUBT WHEN HE ENTERS PRISON..."HE WILL BE THE GAME"

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 2:17 PM Anonymous wrote ...

If that was my daughter, I would be in prison for murder. How dare he try and defend himself. What a joke!!!

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 1:55 PM Mom wrote ...

This guy obviously thinks he can do what he wants with no consequence. He has serious delusions of grandeur by trying to fire his public defender and represent himself. This poor girl has to go through the rest of her life with this horrific thing in her past. Someone should knock him out of the psychotic little world he lives in.

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 1:53 PM unanemouse wrote ...

let him fire his public defense attorney and just go straight to jail

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 1:32 PM Me wrote ...

Let's stop worrying so much about the abuser's "rights" and start worrying more about the "rights" of the abused children that now face a "life sentence" of mental anguish thanks to freaks like him.

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Wednesday, Mar 26 at 12:40 PM walt wrote ...

give him what he desreves.

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