A former Kennett YMCA employee who pleaded guilty in December to corruption of a minor and marijuana possession narrowly averted jail time on Thursday, Feb. 4, in Chester County Court.
Chester County Court Judge David F. Bortner imposed a sentence of five years’ probation, including three months of electronic home confinement, on Tyrone A. Rochester, 24, of Kennett Square. Before issuing his decision, the judge warned the audience, which included the victim’s mother and more than a dozen Rochester supporters, that his decision would probably not please either side.
“You’ve got a lot a people who stood in your behalf,” the judge told Rochester, suggesting that prison time would have been a likely outcome were it not for the outpouring of community support.
Assistant District Attorney Megan L. King had requested a prison term of nine to 23 months – in the aggravated range of the sentencing guidelines. She said Rochester, who worked as a part-time program instructor at the YMCA, began an inappropriate relationship in November 2012 with the victim, who was 13 at the time and a member at the Y.
“I don’t believe probation is merited in a case like this,” King said, explaining that Rochester sent numerous text and Facebook messages to the victim through September 2013. During that time, Rochester also delivered marijuana to the teen.
“He provided the drugs to seduce this victim,” King said, explaining that Rochester repeatedly attempted to solicit nude photos and sex from the victim. King said it was fortunate that no physical contact occurred. “He has demonstrated that he is a danger to underage females,” King said.
Assistant Public Defender David B. Miller countered that Rochester’s conduct was uncharacteristic and blemished a “pristine record.” In eight character letters submitted to the court, Rochester was described as kind, humble, likable, trustworthy, good, honest, and hard-working, Miller noted, arguing for a sentence of probation without the electronic monitoring.
Insisting that Rochester has already been punished, Miller pointed out that his guilty plea had derailed his Delaware County Community College major, which was early childhood education. “His career in education is a virtual impossibility,” Miller said.
“I just don’t see anything that would be accomplished by putting this man in jail,” Miller said. “There is no evidence that Mr. Rochester will ever engage in this type of behavior again.”
Rochester addressed the court briefly, apologizing for his conduct and stating that he was working two jobs and staying away from trouble. “I’m ready to accept the consequences of my actions,” he said.
Before announcing his decision, Bortner said he had reviewed a victim-impact letter that was submitted by the victim’s mother, who also briefly addressed the court. “I understand and respect the plea for a severe sentence, as requested by the victim’s mother,” Bortner said, adding that he would feel the same way in her position.
“I don’t know what you were thinking, sir,” the judge said to Rochester. “There is no excuse for your conduct, and I think you recognize that.”
In addition to the term of probation and electronic monitoring, Bortner ordered Rochester to perform 150 hours of community service during his first year of probation, complete a drug and alcohol as well as a sex offender’s evaluation, have no unsupervised contact with minors and no contact with the victim and her family, and pay restitution for the girl’s therapy expenses.
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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