[nfbmi-talk] 60 days for abusing blind minors?

[joe harcz Comcast]

Ex-W.Va. blind school worker gets jail term in neglect case

 

February 11, 2014

 

ExW.Va. blind school worker gets jail term in neglect case

 

Marla Pisciotta

Cumberland Times-News

 

ROMNEY, W.Va. — A former child care worker at the West Virginia School for the Blind was sentenced in Hampshire County Circuit Court on Monday to 60 days

in jail for two counts of child neglect creating injury.

 

Judge H. Charles Carl III sentenced Roger L. Sipple of Romney, who pleaded guilty in Circuit Court on Dec. 20.

 

The criminal complaint alleged that Sipple bought alcohol and cigarettes for a 16-year-old girl and another juvenile in exchange for them exposing and touching

themselves at his home.

 

The grand jury, during the September term, indicted Sipple for three counts of sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust to a child and two counts

of child neglect creating risk of injury.

 

The court conviction order confirmed that the plea agreement did not allow the state to take a position.

 

Sipple was found guilty of the felony counts of child neglect resulting in injury. The felony counts of engaging in sexual contact were dismissed, according

to the plea agreement.

 

Sipple was sentenced to one to three years concurrent on each count, which Carl suspended to 60 days in jail.

 

Sipple has to register with Child Abuse and Neglect and be subject to supervision following jail time.

 

Both the victims and law enforcement approved the plea agreement.

 

Three weeks after Hampshire County authorities charged Sipple with eight counts of sexual abuse by a guardian in 2012, the state board of education suspended

him without pay.

 

Sipple was ordered to report to jail Feb. 24 by noon.

 

Contact Marla Pisciotta at

marlapisciotta at frontier.com.