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December 23, 2009

New indictment against accused child molester

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG

PLATTSBURGH — An accused child molester was recently indicted again in a case involving a 10-year-old boy.

Thomas L. West has been facing charges since last fall after he allegedly sexually abused the boy on three occasions earlier this year.

Authorities believe West abused the boy once at his residence, at a pond in Clinton County and then in the woods behind his West Chazy residence.

The abuse allegedly happened between May and August.

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

Recently, a Clinton County grand jury returned an indictment against him accusing West of three felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of endangerment.

West has pleaded not guilty and continues to be held at Clinton County Jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

In a separate case, West is accused of abusing another boy, who is now 16.

Prosecutors believe West attempted to force that boy to engage in sexual acts on at least one occasion and then actually forced him another time.

Those allegations have West facing charges of attempted first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

He is expected to go on trial Feb. 1.

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