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Some Research Shows Molested Children Not Necessarily Adult Criminals

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DURHAM — When Michael Boggess took the witness stand inDurham Thursday hoping to save his son's life, he presented an unusualargument. Boggess admitted to sexually molesting his son hundreds of timesover several years.

Todd Boggess' attorneys say that's on reason the jury should spare theconvicted killer's life. While manypeople assume a molested child is likely to grow up to commit violentcrimes, one psychiatrist says it's just not so.

Dr. David Colvard says years of research shows that there is nocorrelation between child sexual abuse and later acts of violent crime.

Some advocacy groups and the defense attorneys disagree with Dr.Colvard.The doctor says the attorneys in this case, and many others, play onemotion, not science.

Prosecutors are asking for the death penalty for Todd Boggess.

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