Malta man admits to child sex abuse in plea deal

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

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A Malta man pleaded guilty to a high-level sex crime Tuesday in exchange for 14 years in prison, a prosecutor said.

Richard J. Oddy, 40, of Avenue F, Malta Gardens, pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court to one count of first-degree criminal sexual act, prosecutor Jessica Lorusso said. As part of the plea, Oddy admitted to sexually abusing a child. The plea satisfied an indictment that had accused him of molesting four children.

That indictment included four counts of predatory sexual assault against a child. Had Oddy been convicted of any one of those counts , he would have faced a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.

Prosecutors offered the 14-year sentence after consulting with the families of the victims, Lorusso said.

“Essentially, it was a priority, in talking to the victims’ families, to not put the children through having to testify,” she said. “They were very reluctant to testify against the defendant.”

Lorusso said she spoke with a victim’s relative Tuesday afternoon and the relative was pleased with the result. She also informed the relative of the opportunity to speak at Oddy’s sentencing, which is set for July 2.

Oddy was accused of having sexual contact with a total of four children, two of them just 9 years old, Lorusso has said.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department began investigating after one of the children disclosed the molestation to her mother, Lorusso said previously. As the investigation progressed, more alleged victims were found.

Oddy was arrested in November 2011 and accused of sexual contact with three children, all of whom had already known him at the time of the incidents. They were subjected to the contact at his home over a several-month period, authorities have said.

After his arrest, a fourth child came forward, resulting in more charges.

Oddy was represented by attorney Terence Kindlon.

Lorusso, of the Schenectady County District Attorney’s office, is serving as special prosecutor in the case. The Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office had to recuse itself after a prior attorney for Oddy accepted a position there, Lorusso said.