New Fairfield man pleads guilty to sexual contact with minors

A New Fairfield man accused of having sexual contact with two boys under the age of 17 has pleaded guilty to two charges related to the crimes.

Richard Spring, 51, of New Fairfield, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sex act with a victim less than 17 and third-degree criminal sex act with a victim less than 17 on Friday, March 23. Court records show that there were two victims from the Duchess County area of New York, and the incidents stretch back as far as 2015.

First-degree criminal sex act with a victim less than 17 carries a sentence of 5-25 years, while third-degree criminal sex act with a victim less than 17 carries a sentence of 1-4 years.

Spring will receive a maximum sentence of 15 years because of his guilty pleas and will have to register as a sex offender, according to Dutchess County Senior Assistant District Attorney Joelle Morabito-Cruz.

Last year, Spring began being investigated by state police after the state Office of Children and Family Services received reports of a sexual offense through their child abuse hotline.

One of the victims was exposed to the sexual contact multiple times in a Pawling, N.Y., residence and was offered alcohol and marijuana by Spring, according to police.

Spring was arrested on April 20, 2017, as he was driving to work in Brewster, New York. He was originally charged with four counts of criminal sexual act in the third degree and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.