Published: July 19, 2006 12:00 am            

Sex offender ordered to serve prison term

Transcript Staff Writer

A registered sex offender facing six new felony charges in connection with the alleged molestation of 9- and 11-year-old Norman boys, was sentenced Tuesday to serve the full portion of a suspended term -- 19 years and 8 months -- to which he was sentenced in 1999.

Richard Bob Largent, 40, Oklahoma City, will be transferred into the custody of the Department of Corrections by the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department, after a mandatory 10-day period.

"It is clear to the court, based on testimony heard and court exhibits received, the defendant violated (special rules and conditions of probation) and continues to pose an ongoing threat to minor children," said District Judge Tom Lucas in granting the prosecutors' motion to revoke.

Largent originally pleaded guilty in May 1999 to a charge of lewd molestation and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with all but four months suspended. Largent served the four-month term in the Cleveland County Detention Center and was released on supervised probation. He was required to register as a sex offender and to abide by special rules and conditions, including no contact with anyone under the age of 18, officials said.

Last week, Largent was arraigned in Cleveland County District Court on charges of lewd acts with a child; lewd molestation; solicitation of a minor for indecent exposure; possession of child pornography; solicitation of a minor for exhibition, and engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses.

The charges stem from a complaint filed July 3 by a Norman father, alleging Largent engaged in inappropriate conduct with at least one of his two young sons, said Assistant District Attorney Dave Batton. Largent had acted as a babysitter for the family, Batton said.

Officials conducted forensic interviews with the boys, ages 9 and 11, and executed a search warrant at Largent's parents' residence in south Oklahoma City.

At Tuesday's hearing, DA Investigator Neil Hamilton testified "hundreds of photos" were found in Largent's bedroom, primarily of "nude prepubescent boys in various stages of undress." Many of the photos had been downloaded from the Internet, but in others, investigators were able to identify the youngest son of the father who filed the complaint, Hamilton said.

An examination showed the photographs had been taken at Largent's residence in Oklahoma City, the victims' parents' residence in Norman and Largent's parents' trailer home at Lake Texoma.

Dr. Richard Kishur, an expert in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, said the photos "suggest they were posed in a way to elicit sexual response."

Kishur, to whom Largent was referred after his brief incarceration in 1999, said he would've been "shocked, and very concerned about the potential for harm to any child in the community," had he known the photos were in Largent's possession.

Kishur testified further treatment would not be helpful for Largent.

Bill Pipkin, Largent's defense attorney, asked Lucas to dismiss the motion to revoke, which failed to list several of the witnesses against Largent.

Lucas denied the request and ordered Largent to serve the full term of his suspended sentence.

A preliminary hearing conference on the six new felony charges has been set for 1 p.m. July 25, according to court officials.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com

        

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