Last Thursday, a former school bus driver for Watertown City School District was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for raping a school girl. After pleading guilty to third-degree rape in February, Shane Piche has been sentenced to 10 years probation and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
He admitted to raping a 14-year old teenager at his home. He’d met the teenager while driving for the school.
During the hearing, the Jefferson County District Attorney argued that the offender should be declared a level 2 sex offender in the state’s sex offender registry, which is regarded as a “medium risk of re-offense.” However, Judge James McClusky declared him a level 1 sex offender which is regarded as a “low risk of re-offense” since he had no criminal record nor multiple victims.
He was also reportedly sued for serving the teenage victim alcohol and was ordered never to be left in charge of anyone younger than 17 years of age.
The victim’s mother in a statement wished Shane Piche was jailed for the offense against her daughter as she is now suffering from depression, anxiety and possibly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
According to Eric Swartz who represents Piche, he will be regarded a felon for life and also be on the sex offender registry for a long time. It, however, won’t be a lifetime because of the level. He further reiterated that the incidence causes Piche pains too and will bear the consequences for a long while to come.