Photo by Howard Owens.
Raymond L. Leach, III, 22, a former Batavia football star who has been called among the greatest high school running backs in New York State history, has been charged with rape and sexual abuse.
The Sheriff's Office announced his arrest on Friday.
Leach is charged with rape in the first degree, a Class B felony, criminal sexual act in the first degree, a Class B felony, and sexual abuse in the first degree, a Class D felony.
All charges are related to an accusation that Leach had sexual contact with a person incapable of giving consent.
According to a Sheriff's Office investigation, Leach allegedly subjected another person to sexual contact, including sexual intercourse as well as oral or anal sexual intercourse while the person was incapable of consent due to physical helplessness.
The Sheriff's Office states that the alleged crime occurred in the Town of Batavia in August.
Leach was arrested Wednesday by Batavia PD on a sealed grand jury indictment and turned over to the Sheriff's Office, and arraigned in County Court that day. He was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled back in court for further proceedings on July 18.
In 2018, Leach set the Section V single-season scoring record with 310 points. That was fifth all-time in the state. He set the Section V single-season rushing record at 3,012 yards, which was sixth all-time in the state. He scored 50 points against Cheektowaga on Nov. 10, 2018, a Section V record. He is first in Section V in career rushing yards at 6,203. He also leads Section V with 111 career touchdowns.
Leach carried Batavia to a state title game in 2018, which the Blue Devils lost to Glen Falls and their star QB Joseph Girard.
Before the start of the 2018 season, Leach and former football and basketball teammate, Antwan Odom, were involved in a dispute, and Odom was accused of stabbing Leach.
Odom was charged with assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
The young basketball star was represented by flamboyant Buffalo attorney Frank Housh.
In a jury trial, Odom was found not guilty.
Earlier this year, Housh was suspended by the Bar Association for misconduct in handling the civil matters of other clients.
In May 2022, Odom was charged with an alleged burglary in Covington. His trial on that charge was stopped after Housh was suspended.
Following Housh's removal from the case, new counsel was appointed for Odom and Odom and his co-defendants entered guilty pleas.
According to Wyoming County District Attorney Donald O'Geen, Odom entered a guilty plea to four counts of burglary in the second degree, a Class D violent felony. He was sentenced on May 18 to five years in prison and five years on parole on each charge, with each term running concurrently. He was ordered to pay restitution of $10,411.87.
In the same case, Christopher McClinic entered guilty pleas to the four counts of burglary in the third degree. He was sentenced in accordance with his plea agreement: one to three years in prison on each charge to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay the same restitution. McClinic entered his plea on July 29, 2022, and he was sentenced per the plea deal on June 15, 2023.
