Adoptive dad admits molesting two boys

Adoptive dad admits molesting two boys

Mar 22, 1988

St. Petersburg Times

WEST PALM BEACH - A man who was one of the first single men to adopt sons in Florida has admitted molesting one of his sons.

After 10 months of denying the accusations, David Lindsey Sr. changed his story Friday. ``Yes, sir,`` Lindsey, 43, said when Circuit Judge Thomas E. Sholts asked him if he had committed the assaults on David Allen Lindsey Jr. and a family friend.

The son, now 19, was allegedly assaulted between the ages of 12 and 16. The other boy was 14 at the time.

Lindsey's admission was part of a plea bargain that is on hold until today, when Teresa Van Riper, who married Lindsey earlier this month, is scheduled to appear before Sholts.

Ms. Van Riper has agreed to give custody of her own adopted 3-year-old son to her parents in order to keep her new husband out of prison, defense attorney Richard Lubin said.

In return for Lindsey's guilty plea to two counts of lewd assault, prosecutors have agreed to drop one count of sexual battery and three additional counts of lewd assault, and recommend two 10-year probation terms, to be served concurrently.

One stipulation of the agreement is that Ms. Van Riper give up custody of her son as long as she's living with Lindsey.

Plans for a similar plea agreement were canceled March 9 when attorneys learned that Lindsey had married Ms. Van Riper on March 4, gaining a spouse and stepson.

Judge Sholts said he wasn't sure that he would accept the plea. He said a jail term might be appropriate.

"I don't want anyone to feel they get one free shot at this type of offense," he said.