Another rich, white boy.

Recently a 20-year-old man in Lewistion, NY, was sentenced to eight years’ probation.  Christopher Belter had pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree sex abuse, third degree attempted abuse and third degree rape, all involving multiple 15- and 16-year-old girls in his home.

Because Belter was 17 at the time the assaults occurred, he was initially sentenced to a two-year interim probation with the understanding, if he successfully completed probation, he would be granted Youthful Offender status.  Prior to the recent sentencing hearing Niagara County Judge Mathew Murphy ruled that Belter would be sentenced as an adult and denied Youthful Offender status.  Judge Murphy said of Belter ”we now know from his documented failure to follow the rules imposed by the court about abstinence from pornography that this defendant does not hesitate to ignore the rules when they compete with his own carnal appetites.” 

Despite Belter’s failure to comply with the restrictions of his 2-year probation, Judge Murphy explained, “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.”  This even after the judge had said “the Defendant still poses an ‘above average risk’ to reoffend after two years of counseling.”

The judge did issue a lengthy list of probation rules for Belter and did issue a strong warning about following the rules.  In addition, Belter will have to register as a sex offender.   He returns for a Sex Offender Registration Act hearing on December 2.  There it will be decided if he is a level one, two or  three sex offender.

Steve Cohen, attorney for one of the victims, made the following statement:   “Justice was not done today.  There were ‘zero consequences’ for violating his previous probation.  He is privileged.  He comes from money.  He is white.  He was sentenced as an adult, appropriately – for an adult to get away with these crimes is unjust.”