CANTON — A former high school wrestling star admitted Thursday to having sex with three young boys.
Christopher W. Rickett, 19, pleaded guilty in St. Lawrence County Court to three counts of first-degree attempted course of criminal sexual conduct against a child, all felonies, and will have to register as a sex offender. The plea agreement calls for him to serve seven years in state prison.
County Judge Jerome J. Richards ordered Rickett held in St. Lawrence County jail until his Sept. 2 sentencing.
Rickett softly answered "Yes, sir" to at times graphic questions about his sexual acts from the judge. He admitted to having oral and anal sex with three boys in the town of Canton between Feb. 3, 2005, and Dec. 1, 2006. The boys were ages 5 to 7 when the abuse began.
The first two counts will be served concurrently, while the third charge with be served consecutively, prosecutors said. The plea agreement called for each charge to carry 31/2 years in jail, so Rickett will serve seven years in prison.
District Attorney Nicole M. Duve said during the hearing that the boys were receiving counseling because of the incidents. She declined comment after the hearing.
Rickett, represented by attorney Gary W. Miles, won the Section 10 Division I championship at 215 pounds in 2006 while wrestling for Canton High School.
He was allowed to continue wrestling during his senior season in 2007, despite his arrest in February 2007 on the sex crimes charges. Then-Canton athletic director David Bradman, who had coached him in football, said then that Rickett could continue wrestling because the school's attorney said he could do so legally.
Canton school board President Barbara B. Beekman said she would consider taking another look at the district's athletic code of conduct to address the issue. The code of conduct addresses incidents involving athletes drinking alcohol, but she wasn't sure whether more serious incidents were covered.
Canton Superintendent William A. Gregory and Mr. Bradman couldn't be reached for comment. Canton wrestling coach John Clark didn't return a call for comment. Athletic Director William Porter referred comment to the superintendent or school board.
