Former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter will serve at least 18 months in Pennsylvania state prison.
Prosecutors said Ritter, from Delmar, engaged in lewd conduct on a web camera that he thought was being viewed by an underage girl, who was actually an undercover officer. Ritter was sentenced Oct. 26 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
“Overall, we are pleased with the sentence,” said Michael Rakaczewski, Monroe County, Assistant District Attorney.
Similar charges were brought against Ritter in 2001 in Albany County, but a case against him was eventually dismissed. Sealed records from those accusations were used in the Pennsylvania trial. On Oct. 20, a New York appellate division court ruled that the records should not been unsealed for prosecutors in Pennsylvania. Ritter’s attorney argued for his client to be given a new trial because of the ruling in New York, but the request was denied.
“We don’t believe that the appeal decision has any effect on the Pennsylvania case,” said Rakaczewski.
Under Pennsylvania state law, Ritter must serve at least 18 months before he is eligible for parole. He could serve a maximum of five and a half years.
