Judge refuses to jail man, 20, who pleaded guilty to raping FOUR teenage girls
Rape victims scream and THROW UP in court as judge refuses to jail man, 20, who pleaded guilty to raping four of them during parties at his parents’ mansion when they were teens
Christopher Belter handed eight years probation by Judge Matthew J. Murphy IIIBelter pleaded guilty to felony charges of rape and of sexual abuse in 2019The Niagara County judge said any prison time would have been ‘inappropriate’Belter could have faced a sentence of up to eight years in prison for his crimes One victim cried upon hearing the verdict, with another said to have thrown up Because of the judge’s ruling, Belter will have to register as a sex offender Will appear in court on December 3 to determine what level he will be classified
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Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III told Christopher Belter, 20, (pictured) – who previously pleaded guilty to felony charges of rape and of sexual abuse in 2019 – on Tuesday that prison time would be ‘inappropriate’
Rape victims cried and even vomited in court as a 20-year-old New York State man who pleaded guilty to raping four teenage girls inside his parents’ home was sentenced eight years of probation instead of jail time.
Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III told Christopher Belter on Tuesday that prison time would be ‘inappropriate’ and instead ordered him to register as a sex offender instead.
Belter had pleaded guilty to felony charges including third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse, and two misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse.
But the Niagara County judge decided against a prison sentence. Belter could have been facing up to eight years in prison for his crimes.
He assaulted his four victims between February 2017 and August 2018, with three aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the assaults at his family’s ‘party house’ in a wealthy Lewiston neighborhood, just a few miles from Niagara Falls.
State police claim that Belter’s mother Tricia Vacanti, 50, stepfather Gary Sullo, 56, and a family friend Jessica M. Long, 42, allegedly groomed the four victims by supplying alcohol and marijuana.
One of Belter’s victims was heard crying as the judge read out his verdict, while Steven Cohen, representing another of the victims, reportedly said his client threw up after the decision.
Christopher Belter (center in black face mask) had pleaded guilty to felony charges including third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse, and two misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse
Belter is seen being led into the court room ahead of his sentencing.One of Belter’s victims was heard crying as the judge read out his verdict, while Steven Cohen, representing another of the victims, reportedly said his client threw up after the decision
Belter assaulted his four victims between February 2017 and August 2018, with three aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the assaults at his family’s ‘party house’ in a wealthy Lewiston neighborhood, just a few miles from Niagara Falls
Judge Murphy told Belter that his eight-year probation would ‘be like a sword hanging over your head for the next eight years’.
‘I agonized — I’m not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case, because there was great pain. There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case,’ said Judge Murphy to the shocked court room.
‘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.’
Judge Murphy did not offer any further explanation for his decision not impose jail time on Belter.
When giving his verdict on Tuesday, Judge Murphy (pictured) said he ‘agonized’ over the case before deciding to hand Belter eight years of probation
Before receiving his sentence, Belter (pictured in court) said that he felt ‘deep shame and regret’ for his actions
Belter told the court: ‘I hope each of you could close that wound I gashed. I know, though, that a scar will remain that will serve as a reminder of the evil of that night’
Cohen told The Washington Post that his client threw up after the decision.
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.’
Belter’s mother Tricia Vacanti, 50, stepfather Gary Sullo, 56, and a family friend Jessica M. Long, 42, have all pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment and unlawfully dealing with a child.
Vacanti allegedly smoked marijuana with the teenage victims and supplied them with jello shots.
Belter assaulted his four victims between February 2017 and August 2018, with three aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the assaults, at his family’s ‘party house’ (pictured) in a wealthy Lewiston neighborhood
At the time of his plea, Belter was placed on two years’ interim probation by Judge Sarah Sheldon – who has since retired – which allowed him the opportunity to apply for youth offender status.
This would have lessened any potential prison sentence he could have received and prevented him from having to register on the sex offender’s list.
However, Belter revealed in court last month that he broke the terms of this interim probation by installing software on his computer to watch pornography.
During the case, the fourth victim gave a statement describing the assault on her, commenting on which Judge Murphy said: ‘He told her to stop being such a baby… The Defendant told her that, if she stopped resisting, it wouldn’t hurt as much.’
Prior to sentencing, WKBW reports that Belter addressed the courtroom to reveal his ‘deep shame and regret’ for his actions.
He said: ‘I hope each of you could close that wound I gashed. I know, though, that a scar will remain that will serve as a reminder of the evil of that night.’
Belter will appear in court again on December 3 so that a ruling can be made on what level of sex offender he will be classified as.
