Christopher Belter: No prison sentence for man who raped and sexually assaulted four underage girls
Christopher Belter, now 20, entered a plea deal in 2019 in which he agreed to plead guilty to attempted first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree rape and two counts of sexual abuse. second degree, according to court documents.
The charges stem from four separate incidents in 2017 and 2018 in Lewiston, New York, the documents state. He and the victims were both under 18 at the time.
Belter was placed on temporary probation for two years with restrictions on internet use and access to pornography, the document states.
But he violated the terms of his probation, according to court documents. Judge Matthew J. Murphy denied his Juvenile Offender status and ruled that he would be sentenced as an adult, the document states.
Last Tuesday, Judge Murphy handed down a sentence of eight years’ probation and ruled Belter must register as a sex offender – but said jail time would not be appropriate.
The protection order was also issued from the very first time.
Belter’s attorney Barry Covert declined to comment. Before sentencing, Belter read out a statement to the victims in the case.
“Through treatment and reflection, I feel ashamed and deeply regret my actions. None of you deserve to be in this situation,” he said. “I hope each of you can close the wound I gasp for.”
“I know, though, that a scar will remain there that will serve as a reminder of that night’s crimes,” he added.
Victim “MM” speaks in court in August
One of Belter’s victims spoke about the incident during a trial. The girl, identified as MM, was 16 years old in August 2018 when Belter raped her and “told her not to be such a child”, court documents state. She told the court she focused on a tree in his room “when she cried during the attack.”
“I wish I had been louder when I started all of this. Maybe I could have done more. That 16-year-old girl was a little too confident that justice would be done. She was worried. worried that if she spoke louder she would get hurt even worse and hurt others along the way she just assumed that all rapists go to jail she missed a chance to speak up that she didn’t even know let People do her talking in court.
“But I’m older today. Today I know that I can speak for myself without interference, without people telling me what to say and what not to say. So I stand before you, please don’t let this end extinguish this flame or let it continue to burn.”
Steve Cohen, an attorney for one of Belter’s victims, said his client was extremely disappointed by the verdict and later vomited in the bathroom.
“The judge had the opportunity to put out the fire but he chose to let it continue to burn,” she said. “I didn’t expect it to be so emotional, but I was devastated.”
Niagara County Attorney Brian Seaman also criticized the lack of jail time in the sentence.
“Given the seriousness of these crimes, the incredibly powerful and moving statements made by the victims and the fact that Christopher Belter was shot while on temporary and unsuccessful probation, My office has been very clear that we believe a prison sentence is entirely appropriate in this case,” he said.
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