Indian Snowshoe Racer Awaits Deportation After Admitting to Endangering Child in U.S.

A 25-year-old sportsman from Kashmir pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in the United States on Dec. 8. Tanveer Hussain avoided going to trial by entering the plea deal in Essex County Court, the district attorney in New York State said. He is now waiting to be deported, PTI reported.

Hussain, a snowshoe racer, had been indicted on heavier charges of sexual abuse, a felony, plus a second count of endangering the welfare of a child. He pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and the prosecutors were willing to pass on the charge to get a guilty plea without going to trial. He was involved in a misdemeanor of “engaging in a passionate kiss” with a 12-year-old victim and “touching her in an intimate area over her clothing.”

Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague said in a statement: “From day one of this investigation, the child witness has been degraded, called a liar and victimized by people who supported Hussain financially and emotionally.” She added: “This plea of guilty is an admission of guilt, and Tanveer Hussain admitted to his criminal conduct involving a child, which was done under oath and with aid of [legal] counsel and an interpreter.”

The incident took place on Feb. 27 at a village bed and breakfast. Hussain was arrested on March 1.

The athlete had traveled along with fellow athlete Abid Hussain Khan to Saranac Lake in upstate New York, from Kashmir to participate in the World Snowshoe Championships, which was held between February 23 and 25.

“She has been vindicated, and shame on those who publicly attacked her credibility and reputation. She is a child and the defendant an adult male, and she should never have been subjected to such cruelty and insults,” the district attorney said. She also hoped that this admission of guilt would help alleviate the stress and pain of the child and her family.

The Essex County grand jury had earlier indicted him on one count of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He faced two to seven years of jail and a post-release supervision for three to 10 years.

Hussain was living in the village since March and the Village Trustee Rich Shapiro and his wife Lindy Ellis bailed him out of jail. The couple said that the deportation proceedings brought by the District Attorney through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement are vindictive and unnecessary, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported.

Shapiro said that Hussain had made it clear in the court that he had pleaded guilty out of desperation and maintains his innocence in actuality. He added that Hussain’s mother has been ill and had put off a surgery until his return and his sister had also postponed her wedding.

Hussain had plans to fly out of JFK airport in New York City on Dec. 10, Shapiro added, the daily reported. However, the deportation process could take months.