Post by nocops on Dec 8, 2006 11:28:52 GMT -5
12-8-2006-
A former Buffalo police officer who forced at least two women to have sex with him or face being arrested was spared a jail term Thursday.
Gregg O'Shei, 43, told City Judge Craig D. Hannah he wanted to apologize to everyone he has embarrassed by his actions, including his victims. He declined to comment as he left court.
Hannah imposed strict probationary terms on O'Shei and warned him he faces jail for any future contact with either of his victims, both of whom said they were disappointed that he wasn't given some jail time.
Under terms of his probation, O'Shei must complete professional counseling, including treatment as a sex offender. Hannah also also barred O'Shei from having sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18 and ordered him to submit to warrantless unannounced searches of his home and future work sites.
At the time of his arrest, law enforcement sources said O'Shei, an 11-year veteran of the force, had been accused of using his position as a police officer to benefit himself in exchange for agreeing not to arrest the women.
O'Shei was allowed by prosecutors to plead guilty Sept. 14 to misdemeanor official misconduct and coercion charges and forced to resign from the police department. Deputy District Attorney Mark A. Sacha stressed to the judge Thursday that "his problem revolved around sex."
Andrew C. LoTempio, O'Shei's attorney, insisted his client is not a sexual offender and is currently getting professional treatment for what he described as a behavioral problem.
During the brief mid-morning sentencing proceeding, one of O'Shei's victims told the judge her 8-year-old daughter told her she believed O'Shei "should be treated like a criminal" for the way he would frequently force his way into their house to have sex with her mother.
Attorney Gerald W. Schaffer Jr., who came to court for the sentencing, confirmed he represents some of the women O'Shei was allegedly sexually harassing in recent years and who are contemplating lawsuits against the city for the former officer's sexual exploits. Sacha and fellow prosecutor Rachel Newton declined to comment on Schaffer's allegations, but both pressed the judge to force O'Shei to sign orders of protection barring him from harassing both his admitted victims.
LoTempio said the family of O'Shei, an Orchard Park resident, has been "devastated" and his client is looking for work while undergoing professional treatment.
www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061208/1064572.asp
A former Buffalo police officer who forced at least two women to have sex with him or face being arrested was spared a jail term Thursday.
Gregg O'Shei, 43, told City Judge Craig D. Hannah he wanted to apologize to everyone he has embarrassed by his actions, including his victims. He declined to comment as he left court.
Hannah imposed strict probationary terms on O'Shei and warned him he faces jail for any future contact with either of his victims, both of whom said they were disappointed that he wasn't given some jail time.
Under terms of his probation, O'Shei must complete professional counseling, including treatment as a sex offender. Hannah also also barred O'Shei from having sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18 and ordered him to submit to warrantless unannounced searches of his home and future work sites.
At the time of his arrest, law enforcement sources said O'Shei, an 11-year veteran of the force, had been accused of using his position as a police officer to benefit himself in exchange for agreeing not to arrest the women.
O'Shei was allowed by prosecutors to plead guilty Sept. 14 to misdemeanor official misconduct and coercion charges and forced to resign from the police department. Deputy District Attorney Mark A. Sacha stressed to the judge Thursday that "his problem revolved around sex."
Andrew C. LoTempio, O'Shei's attorney, insisted his client is not a sexual offender and is currently getting professional treatment for what he described as a behavioral problem.
During the brief mid-morning sentencing proceeding, one of O'Shei's victims told the judge her 8-year-old daughter told her she believed O'Shei "should be treated like a criminal" for the way he would frequently force his way into their house to have sex with her mother.
Attorney Gerald W. Schaffer Jr., who came to court for the sentencing, confirmed he represents some of the women O'Shei was allegedly sexually harassing in recent years and who are contemplating lawsuits against the city for the former officer's sexual exploits. Sacha and fellow prosecutor Rachel Newton declined to comment on Schaffer's allegations, but both pressed the judge to force O'Shei to sign orders of protection barring him from harassing both his admitted victims.
LoTempio said the family of O'Shei, an Orchard Park resident, has been "devastated" and his client is looking for work while undergoing professional treatment.
www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061208/1064572.asp