Despite pleas from his father, a former Abington Heights assistant baseball coach will spend three to 18 months in Lackawanna County Prison for asking a 12-year-old girl for her underwear and other clothing through Facebook.
"As a family we ask, 'Don't incarcerate our son,'â" Gavin Cerco Sr. said Wednesday to Lackawanna County Judge Vito P. Geroulo.
A jury convicted Gavin Joseph Cerco II, 26, in January on one count of corruption of minors. Mr. Cerco sent dozens of Facebook messages to the girl last year, asking about what types of clothing she likes to wear and telling her about the types of clothing he likes to wear. During his Jan. 23 trial, Mr. Cerco's attorney, Paul Walker, argued that Mr. Cerco is a cross-dresser and was reaching out to someone he felt comfortable talking to about women's attire.
On Wednesday, Judge Geroulo did not take issue with Mr. Cerco's interest in women's clothing, but did take issue with the age of the person he approached. He noted that Mr. Cerco has three older sisters, and if he had simply wanted to discuss clothing, why not ask them rather than a 12-year-old girl.
Mr. Cerco said he now understands what he did was wrong.
"I do realize it was completely inappropriate," Mr. Cerco said.
Speaking to the judge, the victim said that for a while she felt worried being in public places as a result of his Facebook conversations. Now she is doing better and she forgives him.
Mr. Cerco is also required to continue behavioral therapy counseling and take anger management courses and is not allowed to have contact with the victim or her family.
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