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Pocono News Section
Former Crossing Guard Sentenced on Molestation Charges
Former Crossing Guard Sentenced on Molestation Charges - Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 6:10PM EST
Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Thursday, Mar 19, 2009 @ 06:10pm EST
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY -- A former crossing guard who pled guilty to molesting children was sentenced to hundreds of years behind bars Thursday. Judge Scott Naus sentenced 61-year-old Dale Hutchings to a minimum of 230 years in state prison for sexually abusing seven children.
"It brings me satisfaction to know he'll be in jail for the rest of his life," the mother of victims told us.
Hutchings admitted in August that he molested six girls and one boy between 1998 and 2007, and he kept proof of it.
"We had video tapes, tapes he made on his own," said Anthony McDonald, assistant district attorney. "I think he's a monster and the things he did to these children are completely inexcusable."
The victims say Hutchings used many volunteer activities in Berwick to earn their trust. He was a softball coach, a high school band volunteer, and a crossing guard at Orange Street Elementary School.
"That's what gave him access to kids, he was in trusted positions within the community -- the perfect place for a predator to be," added McDonald.
Joyce Proeger has been a crossing guard for three years and replaced Hutchings at the Orange Street corner. She was relieved with the sentence.
"It's done, it's over with," said Proeger. "As long as he's off the streets and away from the kids, that's okay with me."
McDonalds says Hutchings had other victims, but they didn't want to come forward due to the likelihood of having to testify in front of him in court. He says Hutchings molested a woman as a child 30 years ago.
Hutchings apologized and cried in court, but the judge and victims weren't buying it. The mother of victims who were in court Thursday says they'll try to move on from here.
"They have big plans for the future," she said. "I'm very proud of my children."
McDonald added there was hours of footage of Hutchings molesting those seven children. He said in the courtroom that Hutchings deserved every minute of every hour of every day that he was sentenced to, but that far too soon, Hutchings will find comfort in death.
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