Baltimore Crime Beat: Sex offender pleads guilty in Salisbury girl's death - Baltimore crime news: Police, courts and police stories in the city and central Maryland

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March 29, 2011

Sex offender pleads guilty in Salisbury girl's death

The Salisbury Daily Times is reporting that convicted sex offender Thomas Leggs has pleaded guilty to killing 11-year-old Sarah Foxwell in late 2009. The girl's disappearance set off a massive search, and the killing spurred new legislation in the General Assembly. The plea spares Leggs the death penalty:

Leggs, 31, was sentenced in Cecil County Circuit Court to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of the 11-year-old Salisbury girl. He also pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sex offense charges.

Leggs addressed the family in the hearing today, and said he was surprised they had agreed to allow the removal of the death penalty option.

Sarah Foxwell's aunt, who was caring for Foxwell at the time of her kidnapping and murder, gave emotional testimony at today's hearing. Prosecutors also read statements from other members of Foxwell's family.

Posted by Justin Fenton at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Crime elsewhere

Comments

Sarah Rest In Peace:) You Were My Best Friend That Anyone Could Have:) I Wish That He Didn't Do What He Did To You:) I Love You && Miss You:) Rest In Peace:)
God Will Always Be Watching Over You<3

Posted by: Nikki | March 29, 2011 3:59 PM

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About Peter Hermann

Peter Hermann started covering news for The Baltimore Sun in 1990, first in Anne Arundel County and, starting in 1994, reporting on the Baltimore Police Department. In 2001, he was assigned to Jerusalem as the Baltimore Sun's Middle East correspondent. He returned in 2005 as an assistant city editor overseeing crime coverage. In 2008, Peter returned to the beat as a daily reporter and blogger. A recent BBC report featured him in a segment on the harsh realities of covering crime in Baltimore.

Coverage will focus on crime trends, problems in neighborhoods in the city and elsewhere, profiles of victims and police officers and try to offer readers a fresh perspective on one of the most vexing issues facing Baltimore and its future.

Contributing to this blog is Justin Fenton, who joined The Sun in 2005 and has covered the Baltimore City Police Department and the criminal justice system since 2008. His work includes an investigation into Cal Ripken Jr.’s minor league baseball stadium deal with his hometown of Aberdeen, a three-part series chronicling a ruthless con woman, coverage of the killing of five Amish children at a schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pa., and a job swap with a British crime reporter to explore differences in crime-fighting. A special report looking into how city police handle rape cases led to sweeping reforms that changed the way sexual assaults are investigated in Baltimore. He was recognized as the best reporter in Baltimore by the City Paper in 2010 and by Baltimore Magazine in 2011.

Follow @phscoop, @justin_fenton on Twitter