Giacomo Bologna

GBOLOGNA@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A 23-year-old former YMCA employee and youth minister-in-training was ordered to serve 30-days in the Greene County jail for molesting an 8-year-old boy twice in 2014 while babysitting the boy.

The prosecuting attorney suggested Joseph Presley stay behind bars for seven to eight years, and Judge Calvin Holden initially gave Presley a 10-year sentence — but then Holden suspended the sentence.

Holden explained his decision to give Presley "basically probation," pointing out that Presley sought counseling after the molestation was brought to light. Presley will have to register as a sex offender under Missouri law for the rest of his life.

Presley's victim was in the court Friday, and he testified before the judge. People can change, the boy, now 9, told the judge but Presley should "definitely" go to jail.

Former Springfield YMCA worker pleads guilty to child molestation

The boy's parents also testified. They said the molestation of their son has shattered their trust in any other adult — no matter how upstanding or well-meaning they are.

The mother said they knew Presley for five years. She called him the "ultimate con-man."

Presley picked a night when he knew her son would be vulnerable to first molest him, she said. It was the day of his grandmother's funeral, the mother said; the funeral was out-of-state and Presley was babysitting.

"Do not be fooled by Joseph Presley."

The mother said every aspect of her son's life has changed — his grades dropped, his mood swings, his personality has changed, and he has nightmares.

The boy's father began crying the moment he stood before the judge to testify.

Anytime he is not with his son, the father said, he is now wracked with fear that someone could be preying on his son.

"It's torture to live with these thoughts," he said.

Presley's attorney, Dee Wampler, pointed out to the judge that the molestation consisted of two occasions lasting less than 30 seconds each — one involving skin-on clothing contact and one involving skin-on-skin.

Wampler described Presley as a 23-year-old with no prior criminal record who also had been molested as child — likely worse than Presley molested his victim.

Holden, the judge, would later draw a comparison between Presley and his victim, calling it "striking."

Wampler listed off the names of neighbors, family and friends who came to support Presley, adding that he had several letters attesting to his character.

Presley then addressed the courtroom.

"I am incredibly disappointed in myself and sorry for my actions. There is no excuse," he said. "I am doing everything in my power to heal and get better."

Chris Hoeman, the prosecuting attorney, said after the sentencing that he was disappointed.

"When someone fondles a child, I think they should go to prison," Hoeman said.

A YMCA spokesperson told the News-Leader last year Presley had already been fired before he was charged, and there were no allegations that Presley molested children at the YMCA — where he worked in aquatics and in the Kid Zone child care area.

According to a probable cause statement, a boy who Presley had been babysitting told a forensic interviewer that Presley kept him up late and touched him on the genitals two times during the span of less than a year.

The boy said after the second incident he tried to call his mother from the house phone, but once Presley saw him, Presley grabbed the phone and told the boy to go to bed, the statement says.