Pocono News Section

86-Year-Old Sentenced on Sex Charges

86-Year-Old Sentenced on Sex Charges - Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 5:45PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 @ 05:45pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- A man from Lackawanna County is going to prison for a sex crime that shocked even seasoned veterans. Joseph Gyuriska was sentenced Tuesday afternoon in Scranton.

Gyuriska is now 86 years old. He pleaded guilty to corruption of minors earlier this year. Prosecutors say he had sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy and in return gave him new clothes and shoes.

Joseph Gyuriska is sitting in a prison cell and will be for the next three months. Tuesday afternoon the 86-year-old was sentenced to three months in jail then three months house arrest for having sexual contact with a teenage boy.

Defense Attorney Charlie Witaconis said, ÒWe're a little disappointed. We thought maybe the judge would give a sentence down to a time-served type of sentence but as the judge expressed from the bench, there's a lot of factors that go into these kind of cases."

In court Gyuriska apologized for what he did. Before imposing his sentence Judge Vito Geruolo said Gyuriska's age couldn't give him immunity for his crime. Dawn Vititoe the suspect's goddaughter, said, ÒI don't know how many more Christmases and Thanksgivings he'll have, but I'll go visit him and like I said -- I love my uncle. I love my family and I would do anything for them."

Gyuriska's goddaughter and niece was in court Tuesday to show him her support. She thinks her uncle was manipulated by the victim. ÒThe bottom line was -- he was underage. That was the bottom line so my uncle is going to do his time and the judge did what he thought was right and we just have to respect that," she said.

Prosecutors say Gyuriska gave the teen new clothes and shoes in exchange for the sexual contact. ÒIt was a lack of judgment that put him into these situations and unfortunately it ended up costing him spending the last couple years of his life in jail," said Witaconis.

Gyuriska had previously served as a school crossing guard in Dunmore. When the judge asked him to explain his actions Gryuriska said he couldn't.

He said he really doesn't know why it happened.