FLOYD, ONEIDA CO. -- The teenage babysitter accused of murdering two-year-old Melissa Calhoun told police rage came out in him, according to testimony in the teen's preliminary hearing Friday.
The toddler was found dead last Friday in her Yorkville home. 13-year-old Alec Champagne was caring for her the night before, and has been charged with 2nd degree murder in the case.
Friday, Champagne appeared in the Town of Floyd Court, where Justice Christopher Clarkin found reasonable cause to move the case forward to Oneida County Court. Champagne sat quietly in handcuffs during the near three hour hearing.
New York State Police Investigator Chad Tangorra testified on the stand. He is one of the officers that interviewed Champagne for about four hours on Saturday. He testified Champagne changed his story several times, but in the end admitted to shoving, hitting, and sexually assaulting Melissa. The teen also told police the toddler was alive when she was put to bed.
Tangorra testified Champagne said in one instance he pushed Melissa because she was being "annoying," and said it was rage. The defense argues the term rage is not in any written report completed by investigators after the interview.
Tangorra also said Champagne's mother gave consent for him to be questioned, but the defense alleges that neither Champagne nor his mother knew the interview was being recorded.
"There is a certain class of offenses which allow a person under the age of 16 to be tried in criminal court instead of family court and murder in the second degree is the only charge that a 13-year-old can be charged with and precede as a juvenile offender in criminal court," said Oneida County's Assistant District Attorney Michael Colluza.
The defense declined to comment, and did not call any witnesses in court Friday. Champagne is being held in a juvenile detention center without bail. An Oneida County Grand Jury is expected to hear the case in the next 30 days. If they indict Champagne, he'll be tried in Oneida County Criminal Court.
Champagne's family was in court today, but did not want to speak with the media. Melissa Calhoun's family did not attend the hearing.
