SCRANTON — A city woman who had a sexual relationship with a teenage boy faces at least five months in Lackawanna County Prison.
County Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle on Wednesday sentenced Leanora Propes, 40, to five to 23½ months in jail plus two years of probation for corruption of minors.
Scranton police opened an investigation in February after the mother of the 14-year-old boy reported to detectives that Propes had a relationship with the minor.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.
Although both the boy and Propes both initially denied the accusation, Propes eventually admitted to having intercourse with the teenager, according to investigators. She blamed it on depression and loneliness, telling police her boyfriend was incarcerated at the time.
Charged with statutory sexual assault and other offenses, Propes pleaded guilty to a felony corruption count June 21.
Attorney William Thompson, who represents Propes, told Moyle on Wednesday that the arrest represents his client’s first involvement with the criminal justice system.
At the time of the incident, she was in an abusive relationship and, while that is not an excuse for what she did, it does provide context, Thompson said.
Noting Propes has a very young child and is also four months pregnant, the attorney suggested the judge craft a sentence that would allow her to care for both of the children.
Propes addressed the court briefly and told Moyle she was not in the right state of mind when she committed the offense.
Moyle, who cited the seriousness of the offense in handing down the sentence, ordered Propes to undergo parenting and sex offender classes. She is also to have no contact with the victim, the judge said.
Deputy District Attorney Sara Varela noted at the outset of the hearing that Propes is a “tier 1” offender under state law.
Moyle told Propes that status requires her to register as a sex offender for 15 years.
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