School Bus Driver Who Admitted To Raping 14-Year-Old Girl Gets No Jail Time

WATERTOWN, NY — A former school bus driver in upstate New York who admitted to raping a 14-year-old girl was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to register as a sex offender. As part of a plea deal, he will serve no jail time for the crime.

Shawn M. Piche, 26, was arrested in September 2018 on multiple charges that included second-degree rape. Last February, he agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree rape.

The plea deal not only specified that Piche will do no jail time, but he will have to register as a Level 1 sex offender, a designation that indicates he will not likely commit the same crime again. His name will also not be included in online sex-offender databases.

In addition, three “no contact” orders forbid Piche from having contact with anyone under 17 years old, with some legally approved exceptions. Piche will also have to pay $375 in court fees and surcharges, and a $1,000 special sex-offender registration fee.

Prosecutors say Piche met his 14-year-old victim while driving her on the school bus he operated. After he was arrested, the First Student transportation company terminated Piche from employment.

The victim’s mother told the press that Piche brought her daughter gifts and lured the girl and other minors into his home, where he gave them alcohol and committed the rape.

Eric T. Swartz, Piche’s attorney, denied the mother’s allegations, saying, “That is complete bunk. It's completely a lie, that's not true. He was pursued… The person pursued him for several weeks; he was a bus driver.”

After the sentencing, Swartz told a reporter Piche was happy with the results and added, “He’ll be a felon for the rest of his life. He’s on the sex offender registry for a long time, maybe not the rest of his life because of the level. But this isn’t something that didn’t cause him pain and this isn’t something that didn’t have consequences.”

In an official statement, the victim’s mother declared, “I wish Shane Piche would have received time in jail for the harm he caused to my child. He took something from my daughter she will never get back and has caused her to struggle with depression and anxiety.”

Read more: Watertown Daily Times, WWNY, WALB, WCNC