James Barbour Sentenced to Jail Term and Probation

By Andrew Gans
March 3, 2008

James Barbour, the Broadway actor who was recently seen in the world premiere of A Tale of Two Cities, was sentenced in a Manhattan court Feb. 29 to a 60-day jail term and three years' probation, according to the Associated Press.

The sentencing followed Barbour's January guilty plea to "two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a minor."

The 41-year-old actor — who has appeared on Broadway in Assassins, Urinetown, Jane Eyre, Carousel, Cyrano - The Musical and Beauty and the Beast — had been indicted in 2006 on nine counts of engaging in criminal sexual acts, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Barbour, AP previously reported, admitted that he sexually touched a 15-year-old female fan when she visited him backstage following a performance of Jane Eyre in 2001 and when she later visited his apartment on New York's Upper West Side.

Barbour will not have to register as a sex offender because he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. The lesser charge, however, was in exchange for the 60-day jail sentence and three years of probation.

Both sides spoke during the sentencing. The victim, AP reports, said, "I struggled with complete lack of self-esteem, panic attacks, and put considerable distance between my family and friends for years. I had always blamed myself and felt like I had done something wrong. . . [The sentencing will hopefully] prevent him from even thinking of touching another child again." Ronald P. Fischetti, the attorney for Barbour, said that "the victim exchanged dozens of friendly e-mails for nearly four years after their last sexual encounter . . . and thanked Barbour for his mentoring and help in meeting people." Fischetti's words caused the victim to weep, according to AP; Barbour declined comment.

Barbour received a Drama League Award for his lead role as Edward Fairfax Rochester in Jane Eyre. He has appeared in such films as "Eight Crazy Nights" and has guest-starred on such television shows as "Sex and the City" and "Ed."

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On Dec. 6, 2007, Barbour pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually abusing the 15-year-old fan. The woman, who was 20 last year, came forward before the five-year statute of limitations expired.