A New York power broker was sentenced Friday for sexually abusing a child.
Steve Pigeon, former chairman of the Erie County Democratic party, was ordered to serve 364 days in jail and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release after pleading guilty to one count of first-degree sexual abuse in November 2023.
“Sexual assault on children is an evil act. It is one without justification or redemption. But this case is more than that. Here, the defendant, a powerful man cloaked in the protection of wealth and political influence must have thought he could do whatever he wanted,” said prosecutor Cathleen M. Roemer, the Buffalo News reported.
Pigeon sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2016, according to the Erie County District Attorney.
The girl, now a teenager, was in the courtroom when Pigeon was sentenced.
“I remember for the first year after it happened, I honestly didn’t know what really happened,” the victim said in a statement read to the court by Roemer. “I know it’s wrong and it shouldn’t happen. But I was a child. I don’t know what rape is or what it means.”
Steve Pigeon, former chairman of the Erie County Democratic party, was ordered to serve 364 days in jail after pleading guilty to one count of first-degree sexual assault. Erie County District Attorney’s Office
“I hope he can spend the rest of his life in prison,” he added.
The case was headed to trial, but prosecutors eventually struck a plea deal to prevent the victim from testifying.
Pigeon refused to make a statement or apologize.
Pigeon (right) will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released. WKBW
This isn’t the first time Pigeon, a close ally of disgraced former Governor Cuomo, has been on the wrong side of the law.
In July 2022 he was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after being found guilty of bribing a state judge.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
