LOCKPORT – Paul S. Turley, who fled the area after jury selection in his sexual abuse trial last year, pleaded guilty to first-degree bail jumping today, but it won’t lengthen his 15-to-30-year sentence.
Turley, 48, is serving his time in Auburn Correctional Facility, where he said he is undergoing psychiatric therapy.
Niagara County Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas promised to give Turley a concurrent sentence on the bail jumping charge when he is brought back to court July 18.
It could have added seven years to his prison term.
Also today, Farkas corrected some technical errors made in the original sentence, but the bottom line came out the same.
“The most he will do now is 15 to 30,” the judge said.
A jury convicted Turley Jan. 28, 2013, of first- and second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child for molesting two girls in North Tonawanda between August 1996 and June 1998, and of first-degree sexual abuse for molesting one of the victims again on Christmas Day 2003, when she was 12.
The victims didn’t come forward and reveal the crimes to police until November 2011. They later went public, identifying themselves as Turley’s stepdaughter and stepniece.
Today, Turley was given a chance to speak, and asked Farkas for a shorter sentence with counseling.
“I can’t change it. I can only correct it,” Farkas answered.
“I never wanted to see anybody hurt,” Turley said.
He also addressed his stepdaughter, who wasn’t in the courtroom.
“I’m sorry for not being a better father and not realizing you were in pain,” Turley said.
Turley, who had been free on a $50,000 bail bond, took off during a lunch break in his trial Jan. 23, 2013. He and his wife Diane G. Turley were captured Feb. 21, 2013, in a trailer park outside Tucson, Ariz.
Diane Turley, 52, pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and served a 90-day jail sentence.
Paul Turley said his wife “has vowed to wait forever” for him to come home.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com
Turley, 48, is serving his time in Auburn Correctional Facility, where he said he is undergoing psychiatric therapy.
Niagara County Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas promised to give Turley a concurrent sentence on the bail jumping charge when he is brought back to court July 18.
It could have added seven years to his prison term.
Also today, Farkas corrected some technical errors made in the original sentence, but the bottom line came out the same.
“The most he will do now is 15 to 30,” the judge said.
A jury convicted Turley Jan. 28, 2013, of first- and second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child for molesting two girls in North Tonawanda between August 1996 and June 1998, and of first-degree sexual abuse for molesting one of the victims again on Christmas Day 2003, when she was 12.
The victims didn’t come forward and reveal the crimes to police until November 2011. They later went public, identifying themselves as Turley’s stepdaughter and stepniece.
Today, Turley was given a chance to speak, and asked Farkas for a shorter sentence with counseling.
“I can’t change it. I can only correct it,” Farkas answered.
“I never wanted to see anybody hurt,” Turley said.
He also addressed his stepdaughter, who wasn’t in the courtroom.
“I’m sorry for not being a better father and not realizing you were in pain,” Turley said.
Turley, who had been free on a $50,000 bail bond, took off during a lunch break in his trial Jan. 23, 2013. He and his wife Diane G. Turley were captured Feb. 21, 2013, in a trailer park outside Tucson, Ariz.
Diane Turley, 52, pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and served a 90-day jail sentence.
Paul Turley said his wife “has vowed to wait forever” for him to come home.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com