ABC 15
April 25, 2008
http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b9546ae2-ece6-4cf7-b193-857e9ae852cf
A former Gilbert church youth leader accused of molesting a 13-year-old girl was sentenced to 17 years in prison by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge Thursday.
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On March 27th, a jury found 40-year-old James Ward Chapman III guilty of child molestation and sexual abuse.
Chapman, who could have faced 22 years in prison, will be placed on lifetime probation and registered as a sex offender.
He was arrested in July after the victim, who's deaf and has a slight mental disability, told a school counselor he molested her in his home.
Prosecutors said Chapman crawled into bed with the girl, removed her shirt and fondled her in December 2006.
Chapman initially told police he didn't do it, but later confessed, according to court records.
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