News

Man pleads guilty to child sex charge

By DOMINIC ADAMS Argus-Press Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:11 AM EDT

CORUNNA - An Owosso man admitted he took pictures of a 9-year-old girl's breasts while she was changing.

Sampson J. Irish, 26, said he snapped two photographs of the girl, who is the daughter of a family he was staying with at the time.

Irish faced seven felonies and was set for trial Tuesday in Shiawassee County Circuit Court.

Shiawassee County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Sara Edwards said she struck a deal with defense attorney Gordon Hoy about 8 p.m. Monday.

Edwards dropped six counts of possession of child sexually abusive material in exchange for Irish's guilty plea before Circuit Court Judge Gerald Lostracco Tuesday.

“I walked into the bedroom when she was changing and took the picture,” Irish told the court.

Lostracco wanted specifics on where the incident took place.

“This is a room, her bedroom, where she had an expectation of privacy,” Lostracco told Irish.

Irish said he deleted the pictures of the girl's unclad breasts later in the day.

The surveilling an unclothed person charge carries a two-year prison sentence and or $2,000 in fines.

Irish also must undergo sex offender treatment and register as a sex offender.

“Basically, I had to cater because I wanted the sex offender registry,” Edwards said. “I wanted him treated like a sex offender.”

Edwards said Lostracco planned to combine the six charges of possession of child sexually abusive material charges into one charge.

Irish will be in court Sept. 26 for sentencing.

- Contact Dominic Adams at 725-5136 extension 239 or by e-mail at dadamsarguspress@gmail.com.

Comment on this Story

a close friend wrote on Sep 14, 2008 12:40 PM:

" I have known him for over 10 yrs and I know he didn't do it! The people that framed him will get theirs in the end! His parents taught him better than that! He is a very sweet guy and would give the shirt off his back if you needed it. Its just very sickening that someone would do this to him. "

not only me wrote on Sep 4, 2008 1:33 PM:

" Do we really think that it is a wise thing to have someone live in your home that is not part of your immediate family? mom dad kids... people want to beleive in the better of people, but it is not always the case when you finally live with someone. If he deleted the pictures later in the day, what was he doing???? conditioning the girl for a personal incounter behind her parents back???? There is alot to question about this kind of behavior. Anyway,,,it was creepy for a house guest to do such a thing. "

none of your business wrote on Sep 3, 2008 6:35 PM:

" When it is hard to prove that you were not the only person using the camera and computer how can you go to trail and face 25 years in prison. I would have taking the plea bargen also. There is an old saying "what goes around comes around" so look out!! Carma is after you!!!!! "

wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:58 PM:

" this story is bull. It was only a plea bargon to avoid the possability of 6 other charges he was wrongfully accused of. "