Kason O’Neil
Posted by: Webmaster in Coaches, Hall of Shame, Health/Gym/PE, High Schools, ME-FV, New York
(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 finds 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.
References:
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)
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September 26th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Jim..I’d like to ask you this then: following your logic (a “child” can never consent because he/she doesn’t understand the consequences) how then can we ever try a minor as an adult, as in the case of criminal homicide? They simply don’t know what they are doing…right? A 16 or 17 year old should simply be forgiven for all that they do..no? The fact is, anyone who says that a teenager has no clue about the possible negative consequences has either not been a teenager since the early 20th century or some how created in a lab.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Well, it’s rather obvious “Larry” that Kason has brainwashed you along with a lot of his other friends and his family. Common rapists and abusers aren’t just random people out on the streets. They are the people that have trust put into them by others. They are the people who you would least expect to do something of that nature. They are those who have the opportunity.
Although you may be a friend of Kason, and see him as an outstanding man, people can have more than one side to them, which appears to be the case with Kason. And because he has most likely repeatedly told you of his “innocence”, you are going to respond to this post in a negative manner. But that does not bother me, because it is common for friends and relatives in these type of situations to ignore the facts and listen to the one person who really shouldn’t be listened to.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Jurors equal idiots. Victim equals a liar. Kason equals a wrongly convicted man. Shame on the system and shame on the people who are so quick to judge. Give your life to a sport only to have it all taken away. Sad.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
For all those doubters out there:
http://poststar.com/articles/2008/09/24/news/latest/doc48da9a2257301307739347.txt
“Jurors in the recent trial of a local coach and teacher voted 11-1 in favor of convicting him of all charges at numerous points during deliberations”