Garramone brothers sentenced for sex crimes involving teen girl; avoid jail time
Story Created:
Aug 10, 2010 at 11:48 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Aug 10, 2010 at 6:28 PM EDT
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV - Local attorney Devin Garramone, 36, and his brother, musician and business owner Christian Garramone, 34, were both sentenced in Oneida County Court Tuesday for charges relating to their relationship with a teenage girl.
Both Garramones took a plea offer in June. Devin pleaded to the charge of obscenity. The victim alleged that hea had sent pictures of himself to her cell phone. Christian pleaded to endangering the welfare of a child after he had sexual contact with the victim.
Both charges were misdemeanors.
At their sentencing on Tuesday, Devin received a one year conditional discharge, which is based on good behavior, and Christian received three years probation. Both brothers also were served with a five year order of protection against the victim.
The victim, whose name NEWSChannel 2 is not releasing because she is the victim of a sexual crime, addressed both the Garramone brothers in court Tuesday.
"It still creeps me out remembering the time when we talked on the phone and you told me you had been attracted to me since you met me," the victim said to Devin Garramone. "After those conversations you started sending quite explicit sexual messages."
After Devin was sentenced, he left the courtroom and Christian was brought in.
"I was young and immature. I didn't realize, like I do now, how wrong it really was," said the victim recalling a sexual encounter with Christian. "I didn't have sex with you because I wanted to, I did because I felt I had to. It was almost like it was your payment because I had nothing else to offer." the victim said recalling how Christian helped her and a friend run away from the House of the Good Sheppard.
Matthew Doran, the special prosecutor handling the case from Onondaga County, said after a long investigation and after lengthy litigation he is satisfied with the outcome. Doran was handling the case to alleviate any conflicts of interest with the Oneida County District Attorney's Office. The Garramones had another brother, Grant Garramone, who works for the Oneida County District Attorney's Office.
"Christian Garramone and Devin Garramone are now convicted of crimes," Doran said. "They have admitted certain criminal behavior. They will have those criminal convictions on their record for the rest of their lives. To me, whatever punishment follows after that is important, but not as important as the ultimate conviction here."
Devin Garramone took time to address the court on Tuesday, saying that what he pleaded guilty to did not match what the victim was saying
"This is just a bump in the road and I will get past it," said Garramone. "I apologize to my family for the mistakes in my life."
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