Image Credit: Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

Buffalo, November 22 (RHC)-- A New York man who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of four teenage girls will avoid prison, after receiving an extraordinarily lenient sentence that’s drawn international condemnation. 

Chris Belter, who’s now 20 years old, received eight months probation and no jail time after he pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree rape and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. 

One survivor who was in the courtroom told Buffalo news station WKBW she had to immediately run to the bathroom to throw up after Belter’s sentencing last Tuesday.  She said: “I lost it.  I didn’t expect to be as emotional as I was, but I just broke down.  I was shaking with anger.  I’m just disgusted at the fact that this was even an option.”

The four teens who were sexually assaulted were 15 and 16-years-old.  Belter, who is white, is from a wealthy neighborhood near Niagara falls.