Caseworker behind bars in sex crime

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A registered sex offender who managed to get hired at a job working with families, is now charged with yet another sex crime against a child.

Phillip Young was convicted of sodomizing an 11-year-old boy in 1995.

He's a registered sex offender in New York State.

He's now accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old Buffalo boy this past summer. From 2000 to 2006, Young worked for the Buffalo Urban League.

"He was a caseworker which means he worked with families, primarily the parents in teaching them, helping them take care of their children," said Brenda McDuffie, President of Buffalo Urban League. "As part of our policy, he was never allowed to have children under his supervision."

But, that didn't stop Young who has been a registered sex offender since 1995. A look at the state sex offender registry shows the special conditions for Young included counseling and no jobs with children.

He lost his Urban League job in 2006 when he confessed to, "We had heard he taken a child to his home which is a violation of our policy," McDuffie said.

McDuffie tells me News 4, Young was hired along with staff from another agency that closed.

"Because of the urgent nature, we did not do background checks on the individuals who were transferred in," said McDuffie.

The Buffalo Urban League has changed its policy and now conducts background checks before someone is hired and while they are employed.

Police believe Young met the boy he's accused of sexually assaulting, while working for the Urban League.

The 44 year old is being held without bail at the Erie County Holding Center.