Hearing put off for advisor
charged with fondling boys

Sac Bee Eccloo

MARYSVILLE 6/12/02 (YSN) -- A Yuba County judge Wednesday postponed a preliminary hearing into charges that elementary school psychologist William W. Babcock, 54, fondled four boy students.

Superior Court Judge James Curry reset the evidentiary hearing for 9 a.m. July 26 to give the defense time to review police investigative reports the prosecution produced only a few days ago.

Babcock was arrested in mid-April by Marysville police detectives looking into parental claims that Babcock allegedly had inappropriately touched several 8- to 10-year-old boys.

A licensed family counselor, Babcock had been a contract psychologist at Kynoch Elementary School since 1994.

When news spread of Babcock's arrest, school officials and representatives of the Yuba county Probation Department's victims/witnesses program met with about 200 concerned parents.

Following that meeting Curry proclaimed a gag order, prohibiting the parties and attorneys in the case not to talk with the public or press.

Babcock remains in custody in lieu of $400,000 bail.