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news
Former employee
given probation
By Larry W. Brunson,
Jr
On-line Forty-Niner
Former Cal State
Long Beach employee Roger McGookin was sentenced to five years
of probation on June 8 after pleading no contest to the felony
charge of a lewd act with a child under the age of 14.
McGookin, who was
a school psychologist in the Ecuational Psychology Clinic
at CSULB, was arrested last summer on eight felony charges.
Two charges were for lewd acts with a child under the age
of 14, four charges were for attempted lewd conduct with a
child under the age of 14, one charge of possession of child
pornography, and one count of illegal distribution of obscenity
to a minor.
McGookin, who was
formally charged with the eight felony counts last November,
was able to get seven of the eight counts dropped due to his
plea negotiations, according to court records provided by
the Long Beach Courthouse. McGookin's only conviction was
the one felony count of lewd acts with a child under the age
of 14.
In addition to
the five years of probation, McGookin will have to register
as a sex offender every year with his local police agency,
according to court records. McGookin will also have to undergo
counseling and rehabilitation for the crime he committed.
McGookin must also
turn over his physician's license to the Medical Board of
California, and the board will also be notified of McGookin's
conviction. Also, McGookin must not have any contact with
anyone under the age 18 unless another adult is present, and
cannot have involvement with any group, volunteer, or any
program or organization that involves children.
McGookin must also
have no contact with the victim in this conviction, and he
cannot have any contact with the victim's parents.
Capt. Stan Skipworth,
of University Police said he believed McGookin would be convicted
if the case went to a jury, as reported in the On-line Forty-Niner
in April, and he was confident that McGookin would be found
accountable. However, Skipworth was unavailable for comment
at this time.
"I assume
that the police made sure that justice was served in this
case," said CSULB President Robert Maxson. "I have
a great deal of trust in our police."
Maxson also confirmed
that McGookin would not be returning to employment at CSULB.
Deputy District
Attorney Lesley Klein and the Educational Psychology Clinic
declined to comment at this time.
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