Pa. men get jail for sex tape
The four gave alcohol to two girls, 12 and 14, and taped themselves having sex with them.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. - A state judge has ruled that four Philadelphia men deserve jail time for supplying two girls with alcohol and then allegedly producing a sex video with them.
Michael Ciancaglini, Steve Powers, Michael Piccolo, and Richard Leidy were all teenagers when authorities say they picked up the girls, ages 12 and 14, gave them alcohol, smoked some marijuana, and taped themselves having sex with the girls in a North Wildwood apartment in August 2006.
But although probation and in-home detention were suggested in their plea deals, Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten on Thursday said he agreed with prosecutors that the girls were victims and said the four men, now ages 19 and 20, deserved four months of jail.
"I would have to strain beyond the bounds of reason to find the plea agreement reasonable," Batten said.
Authorities originally charged the men with sexual assault, but sought a plea deal for lesser child-endangerment charges after Batten ruled the alleged sex video could not be used as evidence because the search warrant used to seize it did not refer to when the possible crimes occurred.
Batten said he had never seen the video. "I hope I never have a reason to see it," he said.
By the end of the day Thursday, Powers, Piccolo and Leidy had agreed to the judge's terms. Ciancaglini's attorney said his client needed more time before making a decision.