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HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas debate coach whose convictions for molesting a foreign exchange student were overturned by a state appeals court has been ordered released from prison after pleading no contest to all four charges.
Richard Young, 76, was convicted in October 2008 by a Reno County jury of two counts of indecent liberties with a child, one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count of indecent solicitation of a child.
The crimes occurred in August 2007 and involved a 15-year-old South Korean exchange student who lived with Young, at the time a teacher and debate coach at Buhler High School.
The Kansas Court of Appeals reversed the convictions in February 2012, finding prosecutors had made an error by introducing evidence at trial of three other men who claimed Young sexually abused them as children. Prosecutors also introduced letters Young wrote to the three apologizing for what he had done, The Hutchinson News (http://bit.ly/1yUc72n ) reported.
In March 2012, Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder filed a petition for review with the Kansas Supreme Court, which instructed the lower court to reconsider the appeal. The appeals court amended its ruling last December but again overturned Young's conviction.
The state again appealed to the Supreme Court, but it denied a petition for review. The appeals court last month ordered a new trial.
At a hearing Friday, Young pleaded no contest, meaning he didn't admit guilt but doesn't contest the charges. As part of a plea deal, Reno County District Judge Trish Rose sentenced him to a cumulative 82 months behind bars.
With good time credit for his time in prison and jail, officials determined he completed the sentence Nov. 29 and Rose ordered him released.
As part of the sentence, Young must register as a sexual offender and be under post-release supervision for life.
The victim, now attending school in Boston, was at the hearing Friday and told the court how he was affected by Young's actions.
"I was excited about the great experience I would have in America," the young man said. "I thought it was the land of freedom.
"Within a few days of arriving, I was sexually abused by Richard Young, the man sitting over there," he said, pointing at Young. "My life was shattered."
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Information from: The Hutchinson (Kan.) News, http://www.hutchnews.com
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