(3/10/08 – Initial BBT Report)
Kason M. O’Neil, 26, a physical education teacher and track coach at Hudson Falls High School in Hudson Falls, New York has been arrested on allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female student in 2005 and 2006.
O’Niel has been charged with two counts of second-degree rape and police believe there were additional encounters between the two for which O’Neil has not yet been charged.
O’Neil came to the attention of authorities when the girl made the allegations to officials at her current school.
O’Neil who has been placed on paid administrative leave by the school system was being held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bail bond.
3/20/08 – Indictment
Kason O’Neil has been indicted by a Washington County grand jury on 21 charges that accuse him of having sex with an underage student 20 times between 2005 and 2007.
O’Neil is free on bail pending arraignment on March 28th.
3/28/08 – Arraignment
Kason O’Neil was arraigned today in Washington County Court. O’Neil entered a not guilty plea to a 21-count indictment accusing him of having sex with a then-14-year-old student in 2005 and 2006.
According to O’Neil’s attorney the indictment is riddled with errors and the charges “won’t stick”.
O’Neil’s attorney also indicated that he felt “ambushed” when the prosecutor asked that police be allowed to photograph O’Neil’s genitalia and legs.
O’Neil remains free on bond.
09/18/08 – A Split Verdict
After four days of deliberations, which at times appeared deadlocked, a Washington County jury has acquitted Kason O’Neil on all felony charges in a case in which he was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl on the track team he coached in 2005 at Hudson Falls High School.
The jury did convict O’Neil on on two misdemeanor charges; endangering the welfare of the child and sex abuse.
Sentencing on the two misdemeanor counts is set for October 17th.
O’Neil faces a sentencing range from probation up to a year in jail for the counts on which he was found guilty.
O’Neil’s attorney praised the jury for finding his client not guilty on the most serious charges but indicated he will appeal the misdemeanor convictions.
09/24/08 – Details of Jury Deliberations
According to the Post-Star report, a link to which appears below, the jury was basically deadlocked at 11-1 in favor of conviction on all charges.
Owing to a single hold-out juror, an apparent compromise verdict was struck finding O’Neil not guilty on all felony charges and guilty on the two misdemeanor charges.
10/17/08 – Sentencing
Kason M. O’Neil has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and 3 years probation.
Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan stayed the sentence for 120 days and allowed O’Neil to remain free on bail while he appeals the conviction.
O’Neil has resigned from the school district.
10/22/09 – Supreme Court Appellate Division Overturns Conviction
Despite a jury’s verdict, the Supreme Court Appellate Division Thursday ruled there was not enough evidence to support the charges of misdemeanor sex abuse and endangering the welfare against Kason O’Neil and overturned the conviction.
The high held that trial testimony did not provide enough proof to support the charges and the justices questioned the motives of the victim. In rendering their decision, the justices indicated, “The victim’s testimony was laden with inconsistencies, contradicted other evidence and, at times, strained credulity”.
The entire appeals court ruling, in ‘PDF format’ is available at this link.
Webmaster’s note: Thanks to “wtf” whose comment brought to our attention the latest developments in this case.
References:
Sex charges against coach dropped (10/22/09)
Hudson Falls teacher gets 60-day jail term in sex case; resigns from district (10/17/08)
Juror in teacher sex trial details deliberations (09/24/08)
Teacher acquitted on most serious charges in sex case (09/18/08)
O’Neil acquitted of felony charges (09/18/08)
Coach denies sex with teen girl (3/28/08)
HF teacher/coach indicted on 21 charges (3/20/08)
Hudson Falls teacher, coach faces sex charges (3/10/08)
Hudson Falls coach accused of rape (3/10/08)
To Kason: Congratulations on the final outcome that ALL CHARGES have been dropped…!! You and everyone else knew that would happen. Not even a second thought.
To hfstunna (post #112 – see above): In this amazing country, you’re innocent until proven guilty. When the court of courts decide that the charges should be dropped due to quite a number of reasons, you should learn to see things for what they are. In my opinion, all of this was started by lies brought upon by a little girl who wants/ needs attention.
Kason, let life begin from where it was left off…!!
-LT (BKNY)
All charges DISMISSED!!!!
Everone who thinks Kason is guilty is stupid! Thats all!
I am neither related to the girl, nor am I her. I am simply an onlooker who was present at many times during the trial, saw the evidence presented, heard the arguments, and drew my conclusion, agreeing with 11 people on the jury. Now, because you come at me saying I may be related to her or am actually her, that would only make me assume that you are of some relation or bond to Mr. O’Neil. I find it most unfortunate that you are in this horrible predicament.
Back on topic though, I could have sworn when I was sitting there at sentencing, Mr. O’Neil’s attorney stated that they were already getting the wheels moving on filing the appeal. Now, almost 3 months later, and there is no word at anything. At his Sex Offender Registry hearing, it did not appear as if he had even started to work on the appeal they had said they were doing. Is this simply him finally showing some admission of what he did? Or perhaps he ran out of money. After all, Mr. Kindlon is a very pricey attorney and court transcripts are much more expensive than one would think. Any way you look at it, he has a month before he hopefully goes to jail, albeit it for the very short time he will be in there.
Such a shame that people like him can be free after such little time. Hopefully he doesn’t feel the urge or need to commit such a heinous crime again now that he is tied down. But you never know. Protect your children if he is living nearby.
you know its weird how hfstunna is so against him… are you related to the girl who he apperently raped or are you actually her??
She was on the track team, family friend…she knew about the engagement in one of the immediate days after it happened…and just because you “know” someone doesn’t mean that you actually know someone…more than 3/4 of rape incidents are with people the accuser knows; it’s not some random bum of the street doing these kind of things…it’s gonna be the people you trust and see all the time more than likely
i cant believe this whole thing ive known him since i was about 7 he would never do this……its funny how the girl came out and said something about it the day after his engagement came out in the newspaper….she prolly had a crush on him and he wouldnt give it up so she tried nailing him with some lies to get some attention
The accuser knew how he trimmed his pubic region and described perfectly that whole area, the tattoo he had on his upper thigh, the layout of his apartment and his office. Couple that with her detailed descriptions of the numerous encounters and the fact that she was reluctant to come forward. And that’s not enough for you? Would you like pictures or something? Because these cases don’t usually come with pictures or video of it happening…This isn’t television; this is real life.
I didnt even go to that school, i am 33 and i’m happily married for which i have been for 5 years. I also have my sources and have been following this story, and have looked at the evidence very thoroughly, yes, i was wrong there, there may be some things which have been put against him, but it is not strong enough to accuse him of rape. yes you are right there, common rapists are the ones who you least expect, but he is not one.
“there is no evidence against him”
I’d check your sources on that one…maybe you missed the newspaper articles…or failed to actually attend the trial, where plenty of damning evidence was presented
Or maybe you failed to even think about how he might be guilty because you liked him as a teacher so much, or thought he was attractive and had a crush on him
Common rapists are the ones close to people, the ones you would not expect to be rapists…not just random people off the streets