Jason Murphy Pleads Guilty To Kidnapping And Molestation -- 8-Year- Old Had Been Abducted Outside His Lynnwood School

EVERETT - Jason Murphy, whose abduction of an 8-year-old boy early this year led to an extensive manhunt that ended in New York City, pleaded guilty yesterday to child molestation and kidnapping.

"Mr. Murphy has taken responsibility for what he has done," said Snohomish County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Stern. "It's been a difficult case for the child and his family, and for Mr. Murphy and his family."

The 19-year-old Edmonds man, who entered the plea in Snohomish County Superior Court, was originally set to plead guilty May 24 but was delayed because of a paperwork glitch, his attorney, John Wolfe, said earlier. Wolfe could not be reached for comment after Murphy's guilty plea.

Murphy is set to be sentenced Aug. 2.

He became the subject of a nationwide search in January after kidnapping the 8-year-old boy from his Lynnwood school.

Murphy had been a friend of the boy and his family until his parents, who are divorced, cut off contact when they became concerned that Murphy had become obsessed with their son and had touched him inappropriately.

On Jan. 3, Murphy lured the boy away from school after his mother had dropped him off. The two then flew to New York City.

They were found there three days after the kidnapping, when they were recognized by a hotel clerk who had seen a report on "America's Most Wanted" television show.

The boy was not injured, but his reunion with his parents was delayed for days because of a blizzard that closed the city's airports.

Murphy, who was being held in lieu of $1 million bail, faces about five to seven years for the first-degree child-molestation charge, which stems from sexual contact he had with the boy from last June to August. Stern said he would recommend the high end of the range.

The standard sentence range for second-degree kidnapping is 13 to 17 months, but the sentence for child molestation would be served concurrently.

Besides serving the prison sentence, Murphy is obligated to repay the boy and his family for any medical costs or counseling, and will reimburse the county for the $3,500 it spent to bring him back from New York. He has already repaid the boy's family for the cost of their trip to New York.

He also is charged with three counts of burglary and one of forgery from an earlier, unrelated incident.