Police: Schoharie County man inappropriately touched child

A Schoharie County man is accused of inappropriately touching a child under the age of 16.

Joseph Hemmes, 39, of Seward, was charged on Friday with forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. State Police said they received information last month that alleged Hemmes touched the child in the summer of 2024 at a residence in Seward.

Hemmes was taken to Schoharie County Jail to await arraignment.

Hemmes is Level 2 sex offender because of a previous conviction. That is classified as a moderate risk to reoffend. He was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for a sex crime that involved a 14-year-old victim who he did not know, according to the sex offender database.