Father, son plead guilty to sex crimes

NEW LONDON — A New London father-and-son duo recently pleaded guilty to sex crimes. Kevin S. Black, Sr., 48, and Kevin S. Black, Jr., 28, both of the third block of Shadyside Ave., each entered guilty pleas. Black Sr. At a July 29 hearing, Black Sr. pleaded guilty to two fifth-degree felonies: importuning and attempted gross sexual imposition. He faces up to two years in prison if he receives the maximum sentence and the judge imposes consecutive sentencing. He also faces up to $5,000 in fines. He will be branded as a Tier 1 sex offender, meaning he must register his work and home addresses with the local sheriff annually for fifteen years. Black Sr. will face five years of post-release control. He will be sentenced during a 9 a.m. hearing on Sept. 17. Black Sr. was released on bond shortly after his December arrest. Black Jr. At an Aug. 11 hearing, Black Jr. pleaded guilty to one amended count of second-degree felony attempted rape and three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all of which are third-degree felonies. The attempted rape count carries a maximum sentence of eight years with an additional up to four years for the Reagan Tokes Act. Each of the unlawful sexual conduct with a minor counts carries a maximum sentence of five years. Black Jr. could face up to $45,000 in fines. In exchange for his plea, the state agreed to dismiss one count of rape, a first-degree felony and five additional counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He will face a mandatory five years of post-release control and he will be labeled a Tier 3 sex offender. That means he will need to register his work and home addresses with the local sheriff every three months for life. He will be sentenced during an 8:45 a.m. hearing on Oct. 1 Black Jr. remains in Huron County Jail under a $200,000 bond. The crimes Black Jr. was accused of carrying on a sexual relationship with an underage girl from March 2024 through November. The first instance of the two having sex was March 9, 2024, according to a New London police incident report. The girl told police she was hanging out with Black Jr. and one of his friends when she told him she was upset about a boy rejecting her. All three consumed alcohol, the girl told police. After Black Jr. walked her home from his house, he allegedly raped her, according to the report. Black Jr. purportedly continued to have sex with the girl until November, when his father caught them in the act. Black Sr. then spoke at length with the girl and had her sit on his lap during the conversation. She alleged that Black Sr. told her he would also have to assault her to keep the secret of her and Black Jr. having sex from her father. The girl told police that when she was younger, she and Black Sr. engaged in what he called the "pants game," where they would chase each other and pull down one another's pants. After the initial conversation with police, an officer arranged for the girl to undergo a SANE examination for evidence of sexual assault. Investigators then arranged for the girl's father to talk to the Blacks about the incidents while the father wore a wire, the report states. The father went to the Blacks' home, according to the report, and talked with them about the girl's accusations. Both Blacks reportedly made admissions during the conversation. Police then conferred with an assistant prosecutor who authorized charges against both Black Jr. and Black Sr.