Vestal Man Sentenced for Repeated Sex Abuse of Child

A Vestal man will serve seven years in New York State prison and 10-years post-release supervision for having sexual contact with a child several times between 2010 and 2016.   

The Broome County District Attorney’s office says 62-year-old James Sullivan Junior pleaded guilty in July to felony Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree and felony Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

News accounts on July 1 report Sullivan entered the guilty pleas in Broome County Court on July 11, admitting that during 2010 through 2016 he engaged in sexual conduct with a male child under the age of 11 in the Town of Vestal. 

In a statement, District Attorney Michael Korchack said: ”After serving his State prison sentence, this defendant will be registered as a sex offender for life and will be under parole supervision until he is almost 80 years old.” 

In accepting a plea deal in cases like this, the District Attorney’s Office says it works to protect the victim from having to testify, while “at the same time protecting the community from dangerous predators.” 

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In announcing the plea deal, a statement from District Attorney Korchak’s office said Sullivan “accepted responsibility for his perverted crimes and the victim was spared the trauma of having to testify in court.” 

According to New York Penal Code, the charge of first degree Criminal Sexual Act could have carried a sentence of up to 25 years in prison and the first degree Sexual Abuse count a possible sentence of seven years in New York State prison followed by post-release supervision and registration as a sex offender.