Oakfield child molester gets three to six years in prison on burglary conviction

An Oakfield child molester who pled guilty to third-degree burglary last month was given a three- to six-year prison sentence this afternoon by Genesee County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan.

In addition, Steven A. Mullen will concurrently serve a sentence of one-and-a-third to four years for failing to register as a sex offender after moving to a new address.

He was given the maximum sentence possible under a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office. (Although he's a two-time felon, the first-degree sex offense could not be considered for sentencing purposes with regard to the burglary charge.) No restitution or fine was included in the deal.

"Mr. Mullen has a brief criminal history -- only the child molestation conviction before now," said Assistant Public Defender William Harper. "He had a terrible upbringing. He was the victim of sex abuse from multiple offenders."

Harper noted that his client "somewhat understands" how his family history has impacted his judgement.

"He makes poor choices, he acknowleges making poor decisions and knows that his actions affect others," Harper said before asking for the minimum sentence allowable.

When the judge asked Mullen if he had anything to say to the court, the slightly built 25-year-old spoke only of the failure-to-register conviction.

"I knew better, on failure to register, I knew I had 10 days," Mullen said. "I'm only asking the court to be lenient for my family, not myself."

Noonan was not swayed, saying multiple crimes have been committed because of one man's poor choices.

"I can't see that anything else should be afforded you," Noonan said before making his ruling.

Several supporters sat in the gallery behind the defendant and one woman wept softly as the sentence was handed down.

In 2004, Mullen was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and served two-and-a-half years in prison.

Mullen was arrested earlier this year after an alert neighbor on Weatherwax Road in Oakfield reported a burglary in progress. He has been in Genesee County Jail since his arrest Feb. 16 and subsequent conviction on third-degree burglary.