Horton takes tough case

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Accused child molester Christopher Young enters a not guilty plea to child rape charges while joined by Public Defender Dan Bryant. Young later had another attorney assigned to his case. (Duane Sherrill photo)

Saying it is never too early to suck up, local attorney Scott Horton relieved two judicial candidates of a controversial case last week when he volunteered to represent an alleged child molester.

His volunteerism came in the case of accused child molester Christopher James Young, 25, who is charged with molesting a 4-year-old girl earlier this year. Young’s girlfriend was baby-sitting the child.

Young, who faces 15 to 25 years in prison if convicted on child rape charges, claimed he accidentally molested the girl when she jumped on his lap while he was on the toilet.

Young appeared in court for arraignment Friday before special judge J. Curtis Smith of Dunlap. During his arraignment, Young said he was indigent and needed a court-appointed lawyer. However, due to a conflict, the public defender’s office was unable to take the case.

The conflict prompted Judge Smith to choose from a list of attorneys present in the courtroom, the first two of whom were judgeship candidates Bart Stanley and Robert Newman.

However, before the assignment was finalized, Horton rose from his seat and volunteered his services, noting the two fellow attorneys were competing against each other in the upcoming judgeship election. Horton’s move prompted one of his fellow bar members to mumble the words “suck up,” which brought a roar of laughter from the courtroom. Undaunted by the statement, Horton responded quickly.

“You can’t start sucking up early enough,” Horton quipped in accepting the case.

Young, who is being held under $125,000 bond, entered a not guilty plea to the child rape charge and was given a July 26 plea or assignment date. Young’s girlfriend and the child’s baby-sitter, Patricia Paquin, entered a not guilty plea to child neglect and was also given a July 26 plea or assignment date.