Cortland County Man Accused of Subjecting Child to Sexual Contact

A Cortland man is accused of subjecting a child to inappropriate sexual contact twice at a home in the Town of Homer.   

Cortland County Sheriff’s officials say Investigators arrested 32-year-old Philip Hutchings on November 2.  Hutchings is charged with felony Sex Abuse in the First Degree, which is a Class D Felony, two misdemeanor counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and two misdemeanor counts of Forcible Touching. Both of those charges are Class A Misdemeanors. 

Investigators say the charges were filed following allegations of abuse several weeks ago. 

Cortland County Sheriff’s officials say the investigation revealed that over the summer, Hutchings allegedly subjected a child to the inappropriate sexual contact on two separate occasions. The incidents reportedly happened at a home in the Town of Homer but no other specifics were offered in the news release. The age and sex of the alleged victim and whether that person was acquainted with Hutchings was not specified by the authorities. 

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Authorities say Hutchings was arraigned through the Central Arraignment Processing system in Cortland County. 

He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to report to Alternatives to Incarceration. 

He is next scheduled to appear in Town of Homer Court on November 15. 

According to New York penal code, the charge of first-degree Sex Abuse applies when the victim is under the age of 13 and the alleged accused is over the age of 21.  A conviction carries a possible sentence of up to seven years in prison along with a possible ten years on probation. A conviction would also require registration in the sex offender registry.  

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.