Ex-Natick High School teacher sentenced in 'Net molest try By Norman Miller/ MetroWest Daily News Thursday, June 16, 2005 - Updated: Jun 17, 2005 05:35 AM EST KEENE, N.H. - A former Natick High School teacher and coach was sentenced to prison yesterday after admitting he used the Internet to lure an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy for sex. Joseph Doyle, 46, of Waltham also admitted in group therapy that he had molested boys he was coaching in baseball 20 years ago, his therapist testified. Judge Dave Sullivan sentenced Doyle to 1 1/2-to-five years in state prison in New Hampshire. ``Mr Doyle was going to have sex with this young boy, there's no doubt about it,'' Sullivan said about Doyle's efforts to set up a meeting with a detective who posed as a boy. ``I think we have to send a message. The sentence is a deterrent,'' Sullivan said. Sullivan rejected the recommendation by Doyle's attorney that he receive a deferred 12-month sentence. Sullivan said he was swayed by testimony from Doyle's psychologist, Carol Ball, that Doyle had admitted to sexual contact with players on the Babe Ruth team he coached about 20 years ago. ``You violated a trust 20 years ago,'' Sullivan told Doyle. ``Parents give you a child, and they expect you to take care of them.'' Doyle was arrested May 12, 2003, at the YMCA in Keene after a series of e-mail messages he exchanged with 14-year-old ``Brad.'' The pair were to meet to have sex, but ``Brad'' turned out to be undercover Keene Detective John McLaughlin. Prosecutor William Albrecht said Doyle started his Internet contact posing as a mentor, trying to guide teens who were dealing with their sexual identities, but began detailing sexual escapades he and ``Brad'' could share. Ball said she does not think Doyle will reoffend. ``He is a man with an interest in both adult males and adult women, and has no discernible interest in children,'' said Ball, who said Doyle is ``transitioning'' from a straight to a gay lifestyle. ``Mr. Doyle is a bisexual male, but he is not a pedophile.'' Doyle said he knew what he did was wrong. ``For over two years I've had to think about the damage I caused. I have to spend the rest of my life apologizing to my sons and my ex-wife,'' Doyle said. ``As an educator and someone who cared much about his students and players, I should have seen what I was doing was wrong. I beg your honor for leniency.'' http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=89718 |