Thursday, January 28, 2010

Officer Philip Spaman Admitts to Fondling Teen

The Ilion police officer who admitted to charges this week in connection with the fondling a teenager is resigned from the department, officials said.

Philip Spaman submitted his resignation – effective immediately – to the Ilion Village Board during their meeting Wednesday night, Chief Timothy Parisi said today.

Spaman, 47, was with the department for more than eight years.

Initially accused of forcible touching, Spaman to have his case heard in front of a jury Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child. He is due to be sentenced to three years of probation on Tuesday, March 23.

He will not have to register as a sex offender.

With Spaman’s immediate resignation, Parisi said the department can now move past the shadow of Spaman’s allegations.

“As far as the department performing its duties, we still have a job to do,” Parisi said. “Despite adversities, whether they come from internal or external forces, we still have those challenges to face on a daily basis to protect the community.”

According to a grand jury indictment, Spaman had grabbed the teen’s genitals on several occasions between September 2007 and October 2008. The teen is now 18.

Spaman was the regional representative for the New York Police Juvenile Officers Association, whose members attend training workshops that explore investigative techniques for dealing with sex crimes against children. Spaman was suspended from the group after he was charged.

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