Albion man pleads guilty to sex abuse, while maintaining innocence
ALBION – An Albion man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court to first-degree sexual abuse for crimes involving children.
However, Richard Hering Jr., 46, maintained his innocence. On June 6, he entered an Alford plea, where he pleads guilty while insisting on his innocence.
He will face up to two years in state prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 22, plus three years of post-release supervision.
Hering faced charges of rape and incest against a child and sexual abuse against three children.
Hering and his girlfriend Renee Koch, 55, were charged on Feb. 27, 2018 with forcible touching, sex abuse and act in manner injurious to a child less than 17 years of age. There were allegedly three victims.
The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2008 and 2010 in the Village of Albion.
The Alford plea means Hering won’t go to trial where he could have been found guilty and faced a much longer prison term. It also spares the children from testifying in a trial.
Koch also entered an Alford plea on June 6 and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. She could face up to a year in the county jail when she is sentenced on Aug. 22.
