Sign Language Teacher Sentenced For Deaf Man Rape

From: CBS 3 - Philadelphia,PA,USA - Dec 13, 2006

(AP) DOYLESTOWN, Pa. A sign-language teacher has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison for the sexual abuse of an autistic, deaf and mute man at a group home.

Forty-seven-year-old James French of Glenside, Montgomery County, pleaded guilty in July to charges of rape of a mentally disabled person and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person with mental disabilities. In addition to prison, Bucks County Judge Albert Cepparulo sentenced French yesterday to 20 years probation after his release.

As a convicted sex offender, French will be monitored for the rest of his life under Megan's Law.

Prosecutors said Christine Ellis, a house manager at the Building Advocacy, Resources and Community group home, caught French assaulting the man in a closet on November 1st, 2005.

© 2006 The Associated Press.
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