Fredericktown man pleads guilty to child molestation

A Fredericktown, Mo., man pleaded guilty Friday to molesting a child, claiming he was under the influence of cocaine at the time.

Following the plea, Circuit Court Judge William Syler sentenced William C. Braddy, 42, to 10 years in prison for one count of child molestation.

During Friday's hearing, Braddy admitted to the judge that at some point between January 2000 and December 2001, he molested a 7-year-old girl.

The defendant told Syler he was not entirely clear when the incident occurred, as he had been doing a variety of drugs, including cocaine.

"During that time I was under the influence," said Braddy, who appeared in court with a shaggy goatee, shaven head and wearing orange jail clothing.

The victim, who is a relative of the defendant, told a counselor in 2005 that Braddy had inappropriately touched her with a teddy bear. The defendant also threatened to harm the girl if she told anyone what he had done.

The charge against Braddy carried a prison sentence of 5 to 15 years. But because he is a "prior persistent offender," the defendant could have been imprisoned for as many as 30 years.

According to court records, Braddy has several past convictions, most for misdemeanor passing bad checks.

Prosecutors declined to pursue prior persistent offender status for the defendant.

Braddy, who has been in custody since his arrest in September, was originally scheduled for trial in the case on Wednesday.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127