QUEENSBURY — A former downstate jail captain was sentenced to 18 months in state prison Friday for trying to have sex with an underage girl.
Thomas F. Abrams, 53, a former Westchester County Jail administrator, was sentenced in connection with a sting last spring in Queensbury that netted 11 other men on a variety of charges.
Police said he was one of 12 men who responded to an online advertisement last June for a “taboo” sexual encounter, and during online conversations with undercover officers, came north to a motel in Queensbury for sex acts that would involve adults and a 14-year-old child. All were arrested, and most have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to state prison.
Abrams retired from the Westchester County Department of Correction after his arrest, and the conviction will not affect his pension.
His lawyer, Andrew Safranko, said at the time of Abrams’ guilty plea last month that the case seemed to be “borderline” entrapment, as his client initially responded to an online ad that made no mention of involving a child.
Safranko also argued the sentence — which was part of a plea agreement — was “harsh” for someone with no criminal record and a history of public service.
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This man is supposed to be a man of the law, not a man who breaks the law. His job requires him to be even better than those around him. He’s supposed to be an example for those he was guarding.
He let down other members of the law enforcement career giving them yet another black eye.
It’s amazing the wide spectrum of people that are sexual predators. I just don’t understand what drives these people to abuse children. Let alone just go frolic with unknown adults that could have who knows what.
Entrapment? Really? Good luck with that defense...glad they caught him!
Guarding? Smh
Well at the time the only other word that came to my blocked mind was babysitting. Which is more likely accurate but I was trying to be nice.
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