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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Ind. Courts - "New Albany attorney sentenced to year in prison for sexual battery" [Updated]

Matt Thacker of the New Albany News & Tribune reports in a lengthy story that begins:

A New Albany attorney was sentenced to one year in prison after a Harrison County judge threw out his plea agreement and accused him of trying to “manipulate the system.”

Anthony J. Wallingford, 39, pleaded guilty Wednesday night to class D felony sexual battery for touching a 16-year-old girl’s breasts with his hands and mouth in April 2007 in Elizabeth. Harrison County Superior Court Judge Roger Davis sentenced Wallingford to one year in prison and two years probation.

In the original plea agreement filed Aug. 8, Wallingford pleaded guilty to the same charge but could not have been sentenced to more than 120 days in jail.

Davis said he was prepared to accept the plea until he read the pre-sentencing report. In the report, a probation officer said Wallingford told her that he was “not really guilty” and that he “didn’t grab (the victim) for sexual gratification” as is required for a sexual battery conviction.

Here is a list of earlier ILB entries on this case.

[Updated 9/26/08] Here is Harold J. Adams' story today in the LCJ.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 25, 2008 02:34 PM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions