How Could You? Hall of Shame-Counselor Markeem Chaplin

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

 From Syracuse, New York, counselor Markeem Chaplin “admitted to violating probation after he pleaded guilty in December to sex abuse involving the 16-year-old girl.”

“A former special needs counselor who had oral sex with a teenage girl at a Camillus group home got his last break today, a County Court judge promised.”

“Chaplin, now a registered sex offender, would not talk about his crime or discuss his future plans with a probation officer, as required under his 10-year probationary sentence.

Though he admitted violating probation today, Chaplin almost fell into the same trap as previous court appearances: he started defending what he’d done. The judge paused and asked Chaplin to read the accusation carefully.

County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller again asked Chaplin if he admitted what he’d done. His lawyer, Marc Stornelli mouthed the word, “yes,” which Chaplin repeated.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Germano said that Chaplin should be sent to state prison for violating probation.

“We both feel a little bit betrayed by what’s happened in a short period of time,” the judge told Chaplin.

But the judge also expressed hope: Chaplin had been much more cooperative with probation at a meeting last Firday.[sic]

“Your attitude was much improved,” Miller said. “That’s certainly a positive step forward.”

Miller told Chaplin that he’d remain free for 90 days to see if he kept cooperating. If Chaplin did, he’d continue on probation.

But if not, Chaplin would go to prison for up to four years.

“It won’t be (me) to send you to state prison,” Miller said to the defendant. “It will be Markeem Chaplin.”

Chaplin was a special needs counselor for Toomey Residential and Community Services, an affiliate of Catholic Charities, when the offenses occurred.

He was also accused of providing marijuana to group home residents.”

Judge ‘a little betrayed’ by ex-counselor who had oral sex in group home, violated probation[Syracuse 3/18/2014 by Douglas Dowty]

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