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Champagne indicted on new 2nd degree murder charge in girl's death

By WKTV News

Story Created: Dec 10, 2010 at 4:49 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 10, 2010 at 7:17 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - A Whitesboro teen accused in the death of a two year-old girl has been indicted on new charges.

According to the Oneida County District Attorney's Office, Alec Champagne, 14, was indicted by a grand jury Friday for second degree murder.

Champagne is also charged as a Juvenile Offender with second-degree aggravated sexual abuse, a separate section of the law that allows a person of his age to be brought into adult criminal court, although the sentencing is different for a juvenile offender than it is for an adult.

It's alleged that two year-old Melissa Calhoun died as a result of alleged sexual assault by Champagne. An autopsy showed Melissa died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Champagne has not yet been arraigned on the new charges. That should take place Monday December 13th in Oneida County Court.

The reason Champagne was indicted on this new charge is that Calhoun's death happened during the alleged sexual assault, which stemmed from the previous charge of aggravated sexual abuse in the 2nd degree.

Champagne was watching two year old Melissa Calhoun in her Yorkville home back in June. Investigators say the teen not only physically assaulted Melissa repeatedly, including hitting her head with the refrigerator door, but they say he also sexually assaulted her.

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