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Last updated on Friday, October 9, 2015
(BLOOMFIELD) - A Linton man who is accused of felony charges of rape and child molesting in two counties has admitted to his crimes.
According to court records, 54-year-old William LaBaum in Sullivan County has accepted a negotiated plea deal. Under the terms of the agreement, LaBaume will enter a plea of guilty to a Class A Felony count of child molesting. The other count of rape, a Class B Felony, will be dismissed. If the agreement is accepted by the judge, LaBaume will be sentenced on October 20.
In Greene County, LaBaum is scheduled for a jury trial in December.
LaBaume was arrested in September 2014 on warrants both in Greene and Sullivan counties. In Sullivan County, LaBaume was charged with a Class A felony charge of child molesting and a Class B felony of rape.
In Greene County, LaBaume is facing one count of a Class A felony charge of rape and two counts of Class B felony rape. He is currently scheduled for a jury trial on December 15.
Linton Police began investigating the allegations of rape in July 2014. Police say LaBaume is accused of forcing a then teen to have sexual intercourse with him numerous times. The alleged abuse dated back several years and allegedly continued over a long period of time. During certain time periods, abusive incidents allegedly occurred multiple times a week. The victim was allegedly coerced against her will and LaBaume is accused of being physically abusive and of threatening to kill the victim or loved ones if his demands were not met or kept a secret. The victim told the officer they feared retaliation. The pattern of abuse including sexual abuse, physical abuse and intimidation allegedly continued into the victim's adult life.
In one attack that allegedly occurred in 2013, LaBaume is accused of saying he was going to kill the victim. The victim fought back, while LaBaume allegedly held a knife in his hand. In the course of the struggle, LaBaume was possibly kicked which caused him to cut himself in the groin area. The victim said he bled a lot and the carpet was cleaned in the effort to get the blood stains out. He reportedly traveled to the hospital in Sullivan for treatment. The victim, who no longer lived with LaBaume, was able to tell police where the blood stain was and they found it after rolling back the carpet and located the stain on the carpet padding and the wood subfloor.
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