Former Connellsville cop sentenced to probation for official oppression
A former Connellsville police officer was sentenced to 18 months of probation for official oppression Wednesday, following a trial in October where he was found not guilty on 10 charges related to sexual assault.
Ryan Thomas Reese, 45, will serve probation after serving a 9-to-24-month sentence for a corruption of minors conviction in a separate case.
Fayette County Judge Steve P. Leskinen said he could not consider that conviction in sentencing Reese on the oppression charge because the corruption of minors conviction is currently being appealed.
The alleged victim in Wednesday蘑菇视频 case had testified at trial that Reese had three sexual encounters with her after arresting her for a controlled drug purchase when he worked for the former Fayette County Drug Task Force.
Attorney General Patrick J. Schulte contended that the alleged abuse of power related to the sex acts constituted force, whether or not physical force was involved. Jurors, however, rejected that argument, acquitting Reese of multiple charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and indecent assault.
A jury only convicted Reese of official oppression, a misdemeanor charge brought against him for using his police powers in an inappropriate manner.
Reese蘑菇视频 attorney, Charity Grimm Krupa, asked that Reese be sentenced in the mitigated or standard range because of his service as a police officer, as a paramedic and with the Army National Guard.
Leskinen said working as a police officer is a mitigating factor by law, although some consider it an aggravating factor because the defendant 鈥渟hould have known better.鈥�
He said he personally thinks official oppression should require a higher sentencing range, adding that his personal opinions do not change the law and should not be reflected in his sentencing.
鈥淲e are pleased that by virtue of his conviction he鈥檒l never be able to be a police officer again,鈥� Schulte said after the sentencing.
He said a police department completing a criminal background check on Reese would see the conviction, and likely choose not to hire him.
鈥淭hat was one of our number one goals in this case 鈥� to keep him off the police force,鈥� he said.
Leskinen also ordered Reese to have no contact with the victim.
The corruption of minors conviction, handed down in 2016, stemmed from a case where Reese offered to not file charges against a girl if she agreed to have sexual contact with him. The girl was 16 when the sexual contact started. Jurors in that case also acquitted Reese of more serious crimes.
Reese is free on bond pending the outcome of that appeal.
A third case is awaiting trial in Westmoreland County. In that case, a woman alleged Reese came to her home with a warrant for her arrest, handcuffed her and raped her. The trial is slated for next year.