By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Larry Cox (left) appeared with his attorney for his
sentencing in Circuit Court today.

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Child-fondler
sentenced
to one year

The state sought a 10-year term
for Salt Lake resident Larry Cox,
who told authorities that he had
touched some 200 children

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

A Salt Lake man who said he has fondled some 200 children was sentenced today to one year behind bars and five years of probation for three counts of third-degree sex assault and one count of attempted third-degree sex assault.

Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario also said Larry Cox must be evaluated three months after he is released from prison to determine his progress in a sex treatment program. Cox, who is out on $20,000 bail, was to report to prison authorities immediately.

He had faced up to five years' imprisonment on each count. The state had asked for an extended sentence of 10 years because of the multiple offenses involved.

Del Rosario said he had no legal authority to punish Cox for offenses he admitted during treatment but was not convicted of doing.

Del Rosario quoted the presentencing report as well as reports from sex therapists that said Cox was likely to respond positively to treatment programs, had taken responsibility for his crimes, had no criminal record, and had significant people in his life to help him.

Del Rosario said Cox was to have no contact with minors without permission from his probation officer.

Cox pleaded guilty to grabbing the breasts of an 11-year-old girl at Toys-R-Us in Pearlridge Center on Nov. 28 and also to grabbing the buttocks of a 10-year-old girl in the toy department at the Salt Lake Kmart on Dec. 8.

The girl fled to another aisle and Cox followed her and grabbed her again.