Man pleads guilty to molesting two girls, will serve prison time
A Fawn Township man who pleaded guilty Monday in York County Court to molesting two girls is expected to spend at least 13 years in state prison, under the terms of his plea agreement.
But the agreement could, in effect, be a life sentence for 68-year-old Paul Michael Pasqualone Sr., according to senior deputy prosecutor Amy Eyster.
Eyster said she's pleased with the agreement, which calls for Pasqualone to be sentenced to a total of 13 to 26 years for both cases.
"One, it keeps the victims off the witness stand," she said. "And two, he will probably not see the outside of a jail cell, based on his age."
Both victims were in favor of the plea agreement, Eyster said.
Defense attorney Kurt Blake said he and Pasqualone discussed the fact that Pasqualone could die in prison. Blake noted that under current state-prison practice, Pasqualone would have to serve between 80 percent to 85 percent of his maximum sentence before being eligible for parole.
'Horrible case': Blake said his client has faced the fact he might never be a free man.
"It's a horrible case," Blake said. "But I think it's a hell of a step on his part to take responsibility and not force the victims to go through any more turmoil ... by making them testify at trial. As bad as his actions were, he at least had some level of decorum at the end."
Pasqualone, of Mitchell Road, has expressed remorse and confessed to state police troopers, according to Blake.
"He didn't want to cause any greater pain to the two girls," the defense attorney said.
Pasqualone's sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 23.
That will give the state time to conduct a Megan's Law evaluation on Pasqualone, to determine if he is a sexually violent predator, Blake said.
If so, he must register with state police for the rest of his life. If not, he must still register with state police for 10 years, Blake said.
The background: State police said he molested a 13-year-old girl from January 2008 to October 2009. In that case, he pleaded guilty to rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, photographing or filming a sexual act involving a child, aggravated indecent assault, false imprisonment, indecent assault and corruption of a minor, according to court records.
He also molested a 14-year-old girl, state police said. In that case, he pleaded guilty to photographing or filming a sexual act involving a child, child pornography, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault and corruption of a minor, records state.
Charging documents allege Pasqualone took nude photos of the 14-year-old, as well as photos of her in lingerie that he bought for her.
Video, photos seized: When police searched Pasqualone's home, they found and seized images and video of Pasqualone performing sexual acts on the 14-year-old, charging documents state.
Pasqualone told investigators he knew the girl was 14 and knew she had modeling aspirations, so he started photographing her -- clothed at first, his arrest affidavit states. He gave the girl the impression that he was a legitimate photographer, according to the affidavit.
Pasqualone set up a special "zebra room" in his home after learning the girl loves zebras, the affidavit states. Police seized a photo of the girl wearing a revealing zebra-print outfit in a room that was almost completely covered in zebra-pattern decorations, according to the affidavit.
-- Reach Elizabeth Evans at levans@yorkdispatch.com, 505-5429 or twitter.com/ydcrimetime.
No comments:
Post a Comment