Posted on: Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Deputy sheriff gets probation in molestation

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

Circuit Judge Victoria Marks yesterday sentenced a state deputy sheriff to one year of probation on six misdemeanor sexual assault charges after denying the man's request for a "deferred acceptance of no contest."

The deferral sought by Deputy Sheriff Irenio Gansit would have allowed him to keep a sexual assault conviction off his record provided he met conditions similar to probation that could have been imposed by Marks.

In urging the judge to grant his request, Gansit said he would abide by whatever treatment programs the court might impose on him.

"In the future, I would like to be able to seek positive employment," Gansit said. "If I have a sex offender conviction, it will be hard for me to find a job anywhere; it would be hard for me to live a productive life."

The sexual assault case was brought against Gansit after a 13-year-old girl told authorities that he had molested her for more than eight years. Gansit was initially charged with felony sexual assault, but as part of a plea agreement, the charges were reduced to misdemeanors.

Marks told Gansit that he appeared to have done very well in his job as a deputy sheriff, but that the "many, many red flags in other areas of your personal life trouble me the most."

Marks also ordered that Gansit not possess firearms or ammunition, that he participate in sex offender treatment programs "until clinically discharged" and pay $300 to the Sex Abuse Treatment Center.