Man admits trying to rape, kill girl

PHOTOGRAPHER: Justin Mason

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Adam Croote was supposed to be babysitting a 10-year-old girl for an acquaintance in the rural town of Berne.

But instead, the 23-year-old New Scotland man tried to forcibly rape the girl and then kill her to conceal his assault. Croote, who was already a level 2 sex offender before the late June attack, admitted to one count of predator sexual assault against a child today in Albany County Court and now faces up to life in prison as part of a plea agreement.

The unemployed Croote was with the girl after school on the day of the attack. Investigators said he tried to snap the girls neck twice before she fought him off.

Croote fled the scene of the attack, but was later arrested by police. He was initially charged with felony second-degree attempted murder, rape, sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, criminal sex act and second-degree strangulation, in addition to misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and criminal obstruction of breathing.

Croote was previously convicted of a crime involving a 25-year-old woman in 2005. That offense did not involve force or a weapon, according to the New York State Sex Offender Registry.

Special Victims Unit Bureau Chief Shannon Sarfoh is handling the prosecution of this case. He remains in custody at Albany County Jail and is scheduled to be sentenced April 27.