BRATTLEBORO – A Vernon man accused of inappropriately touching a child under the age of 10 pleaded guilty last Monday to lewd and lascivious conduct on a child.
In Windham District Court, Kevin O’Neil, 38, entered into an agreement with the state, but will not be officially sentenced until this week.
The agreement includes a sentence of eight to 10 years, all suspended except for nine months of prison time to serve.
In also states that O’Neil will be on indeterminate probation.
O’Neil engaged in lewd and lascivious behavior with the victim for two years, according to court documents.
He was first questioned by police after the victim’s mother reported that he had inappropriately touched her child in her Brattleboro home.
The nine-month prison sentence is adequate time for O’Neil to complete “level a” treatment for sexual aggressors while incarcerated.
O’Neil asked the court to postpone his sentencing until Feb. 13 so that he can work out his living arrangements.
While on his current conditions of release, O’Neil is still able to see his young daughter, with whom he lives with other members of his family, as long as he is supervised by at least one adult who is aware of the charge against him.
As soon as he is sentenced, O’Neil will be on the terms of his probation, which forbids him to come into contact with any minor.
Right now he has no other place to live, said his attorney, Chris Montgomery, but in a week’s time, he could arrange to stay with a friend until his prison sentence commences in March.
The maximum penalty the court can impose is 15 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
O’Neil is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 10 at 8:30 a.m. at Windham District Court.
Source: Brattleboro Reformer
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