Grand jury hands up sex charges

Local News

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

November 4, 2009

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG The Press Republican Thu Nov 05, 2009, 05:01 AM EST

PLATTSBURGH — A Clinton County grand jury has indicted a local man for allegedly trying to force a boy into engaging in sexual acts.

Thomas L. West was first arrested in July, accused of having sexual contact with the boy, who is now 16, on several occasions between October and December 2006.

The 44-year-old was originally charged with three felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Recently, the grand jury heard the case and returned only three charges against West: attempted first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

The indictment accuses the West Chazy man of attempting to force the boy to engage in sexual acts on at least one occasion and then actually forcing him another time.

He has pleaded not guilty to the allegations and continues to be held at Clinton County Jail on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

No additional information about his case was available Wednesday.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com