A former school bus driver who admitted in a plea deal to raping a 14-year-old girl in New York will not serve jail time.
Jefferson County Judge James P. McClusky on Thursday sentenced Shane M. Piche, 26, to 10 years probation, The Watertown Daily Times reported.
Piche, who pleaded guilty to third-degree rape, will be registered as a Level 1 sex offender. Under the designation, indicating low risk of committing the crime again, his full address will not be available in online databases, according to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Although the district attorney’s office requested Piche be registered a level higher, the Times reported, McClusky said his decision was more appropriate because Piche has no prior arrests and sexually assaulted only one victim.
Piche met the girl through his job as a bus driver, state police told the Times, but the sexual assault occurred at his home.
He was also charged with unlawfully dealing with a child and endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly providing her alcohol, the Times reported.
Piche’s attorney, Eric T. Swartz, confirmed to the Times that Piche no longer works for the Watertown City School District’s bus company because of the crime.
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SOURCE: USA Today, Kristin Lam
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