Bachelor To Plead On Charges Of Abuse

By JAMES H. TOLPIN, Staff Writer

As part of a deal under which he would serve no time in jail, Boynton Beach cabinetmaker David Allen Lindsey Sr. plans to plead to charges related to the reported sexual abuse of his adopted son and his son`s friend, attorneys said on Friday.

``We finally finalized it,`` Lindsey`s attorney, Richard Lubin, said, referring to negotiations with the Palm Beach County State Attorney`s Office.

Lubin declined to say whether Lindsey would plead guilty or whether some other arrangement had been agreed upon.

However, Mary Green, coordinator of the crimes against children division of the State Attorney`s Office, said, ``The state`s position is he must plead guilty.``

A plea conference is scheduled for March 9 before Circuit Judge Thomas Sholts.

Lindsey, 43, was one of the first bachelors in Florida to adopt children in the early 1970s. Since then, 11 foster boys passed through his home.

He was arrested in June after some of his children told Boynton Beach police that their father was molesting them.

Though some later retracted their accusations, two teen-agers stuck by their original stories, and Lindsey was charged with one count of sexual battery, three counts of lewd assault and two counts of performing a lewd act.

Lubin said the terms were substantially the same as those discussed publicly last week.

Those terms called for Lindsey to plead guilty to lewd and lascivious conduct and to serve 10 years of probation. He also would have to undergo psychological counseling and agree never to be in the presence of any child younger than 16 unless the child was supervised by an adult who is aware of the charges against Lindsey.

He also would be barred from contact with his son and his son`s friend, both of whom were under 18 when the alleged abuse occurred.

Green said the state offered the plea deal because it was in the best interest of the alleged victims, especially Lindsey`s son.

``Basically, this is a horrible thing that happened to the young man. It`s a very traumatic thing,`` Green said of Lindsey`s son. She said the son does not have a family support group, while the son`s friend does.

Peter Roumbos, an attorney for the son, could not be reached on Friday for comment. Last week, he said he approved of the proposed plea because his client was having a ``very rough time`` coping with his life since he told the police his story.

Lubin said Lindsey hopes to get on with his life, though he would not say where Lindsey plans to live.

``He`s an excellent tradesman and an excellent cabinetmaker. He`d like to do this and get the (criminal case) behind him,`` Lubin said.