NY Psychologist Gets Prison in Boy Sex Case - Updated

(Troy, New York) In October 2008, 33-year-old child psychologist Jennifer Hastings pleaded guilty to sex crimes committed against a 14-year-old boy.

Earlier today in Rensselaer County Court, Hastings was sentenced by Judge Patrick McGrath.

She was sentenced to three years in prison on each rape count and for the criminal sexual act, while the misdemeanors netted her a total of one year and 90 days in prison.

However, the sentences are all to run concurrently, amounting to a three-year prison term with five years of post-release supervision.

In a statement given before her sentence was read, Hastings tearfully apologized to her family and to the family of the boy, now 15, whose identity was not released.

The married Sand Lake resident was employed by the county’s Department of Mental Health when she was hired to counsel the boy as part of a court order in 2006. The counseling evidently took place without incident until early September of 2007, when the seven-count indictment indicates the first crimes occurred.

Judge McGrath had some harsh words for Hastings during the proceeding. A handful of people cried as the sentence was handed down in a crowded courtroom.


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NY Psychologist Admits Raping Boy
[Previous 10/9/08 post]
(Troy, New York) Earlier today before Judge Patrick McGrath, 33-year-old psychologist, Jennifer Hastings, admitted to committing the sex offenses she faced involving a freshman boy she was counseling at Tamarac High School in September and October 2007.

The charges stemmed from a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old boy and included second-degree rape and criminal sex act and misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree sexual abuse.

Trysts occurred in a parking lot across from the school, in a Schodack hotel and at Hastings' Sheer Road home.

"It started with kissing in the parking lot," Hastings told McGrath. "I had oral sexual contact with him."

McGrath also asked Hastings what happened when she took the student to a Schodack motel and later to her Sheer Road home.

"There was sex. Yeah, I had sex with him," Hastings responded.

In an unusual move, Hastings and her attorney Steve Coffey agreed to plea to the entire indictment against her.

She could be sentenced in December to between 2 to 20 years in state prison, though representatives of the district attorney's office noted in court that the sides had agreed to 5-to-7 years in state prison.

"She is basically throwing herself on the mercy of the court," Coffey said.

Coffey, though, threatened to appeal the case if McGrath's sentence is too harsh. Because Hastings pled to the entire indictment, she was not required to enter a waiver of appeal.

"There is going to be a prison sentence, I can promise you that," McGrath said to Hastings.

Hastings remains free on bail until sentencing in December.


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NY Psychologist Hit with New Child-Rape Charges
[Previous 11/12/07 entry]
(Sand Lake, New York) In October 2007, a 32-year-old child psychologist for Rensselaer County, Jennifer Hastings, was arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old boy she was counseling. Hastings allegedly raped the boy many times, sometimes at her home. She was charged with second-degree rape.

In the latest development, charges have been filed in additional jurisdictions.

Hastings was charged with second-degree rape in Colonie; second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child in Schodack; and second-degree criminal sexual acts in Brunswick. She was previously charged with second-degree rape in Sand Lake.

Hastings remains free on bail.

Tip: Don Morgenstern