Statutory rape charge ends with plea deal

A Pottersville man was sentenced to 12 years on two felony charges endangering the welfare of a child on June 4. James T. Young, 47, was originally charged with statutory rape and statutory sodomy, both against a person under the age of 12, in April 2023, as previously reported by Howell County News. 

 

The original charges were due to an investigation opened by the Howell County Sheriff’s Office in October 2022. Four children accused Young and Daniece Clinton in an interview through the Child Advocacy Center after a hotline tip. Clinton was charged with four counts of child abuse or neglect and four counts of first-degree child endangerment in May 2023. She pled guilty in January 2024 and is currently residing in the District 25 Probation & Parole Community Supervision Center.

 

As previously reported the News, court documents describe Young and Clinton to be “the parents to most of, if not all, the minor children in question.” The probable cause statement included conditions reported by the children of consistent drug exposure to marijuana and methamphetamine, being encouraged to use marijuana by Young, being left alone for consecutive days, being hit in the face by Young, and being held at gunpoint by Clinton. The statement also described living conditions as reported by the children, such as having no water or electricity, rarely having food in the house, and having to burn clothes and books for warmth.

 

Young was in custody from April 2023 to July 2024, when he posted bond. On May 26, 2026, he pled guilty via an Alford plea to amended charges of two counts of endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk- 1st degree - 1st offense - no sexual conduct, sentenced to seven years for the first count and five years for the second count, consecutively. He will not be placed on the sex offender registry.

 

Online court records show Young’s case went through multiple public defenders, filing multiple continuances, extending the pretrial period, and the overall timeline of the case. On behalf of Young, his attorney(s) filed a motion for a change of judge and a motion to disqualify the prosecutor, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rizwan Ahad, or, alternatively, the witness. The motion for a change of judge was granted, but the motion to disqualify the prosecutor was denied. The case never went to trial due to the Alford plea. According to a June 12 interview with Ahad, the victims knew about and agreed to the plea.