LEWISTON, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — A New York man who pleaded guilty to raping, sexually abusing and sexually assaulting four teenage girls at multiple parties will avoid jail time, according to reports.
Christopher Belter, 20, of Lewiston, was sentenced Tuesday to eight years of probation and ordered to register as a sex offender, according to WKBW.
Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III said he “prayed over what is the appropriate sentence” for Belter, and ultimately decided against prison time, the Washington Post reported.
“There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case,” Murphy said, according to WKBW. “It seems to me that a sentence that involves incarceration or partial incarceration isn’t appropriate, so I am going to sentence you to probation.”
The judge added that he hoped the probation sentence would be “like a sword handing over your head for the next eight years,” the news organization reported.
Murphy did not elaborate as to why he did not impose jail time.
According to authorities, the crimes took place between February 2017 and August 2018 inside Belter’s parents’ home, where he would host parties frequently. During that time, three 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old were assaulting in four separate incidents.
Reports noted that the home was referred to as the “party house.”
Belter’s mother, stepfather and a family friend are accused of supplying the parties with alcohol and marijuana and have been accused of helping to groom the teenagers for sexual assaults, according to the Post.
The paper reported the three – 50-year-old Tricia Vacanti, 56-year-old Gary Sullo and 42-year-old Jessica M. Long – have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and unlawfully dealing with a child.
Steven Cohen, an attorney for one of Belter’s victims, spoke with the Post after Tuesday’s sentencing and noted his client was incredibly distraught.
“Justice was not done here,” he told the paper. “My client threw up in the ladies room following the sentencing.”
He added: “If Chris Belter was not a white defendant from a rich and influential family, in my experience… he would surely have been sentenced to prison.”
While Barry Covert, Belter’s attorney, refused to speak with the Post, the Buffalo News reported he did speak Tuesday outside the courthouse, saying his client has expressed shame for his actions.
“He is tremendously remorseful for what he has done,” the attorney reportedly said. “There are clients who are never able to empathize with their victims no matter how much counseling they receive. Chris isn’t one of them.”
His probation will include the following restrictions, according to WKBW:
- Remain in Niagara County
- Have employment or be a full-time student
- Live with parents
- Order of protection by victims
- No contact with anyone under 18
- No internet unless given permission by probation
- No overnight trips
- No visiting locations where minors are present unless probation agrees
- Random polygraph and drug tests
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