WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Man Sentenced for Attempted Abduction
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Burlington, Vermont - January 31, 2008
A homeless man will spend at least ten years behind bars for attempting to kidnap and sexually assault a young girl he'd never met.
James Stephens sentencing comes nearly a year and half after he dragged a 9-year-old girl in broad daylight from her backyard in Burlington. Her friends fetched her mom's boyfriend who gave chase -- rescued the girl -- and gave Stephens a pounding in the process.
Thursday, Stephens pled no contest to attempted kidnapping as a part of a plea agreement that sends him to prison for 10 to 15 years.
"I want to apologize to the family of the children that my behavior harmed and ask them for forgiveness," said Stephens in a brief statement to Judge Christina Reiss.
"These facts are frankly a parent's worst nightmare," said Chittenden County Prosecutor T.J. Donovan. "Really credit should be given I think to these young girls' friends who went for help. They got the parents involved. So really fast thinking by the two young girls who were there to get this young person who was in trouble the help she needed and really prevented I think something terrible happening."
Stephens reportedly told police he planned to rape the girl. If convicted of the original charges he could have gotten up to life in prison. Now though-- with credit for time served-- he will be eligible for prison release in eight years.
Brian Joyce - WCAX News
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