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SCHENECTADY---Former Schenectady County Republican Elections commissioner Armando Tebano has pleaded guilty to a non-crime of second degree harassment in a deal offered as he was about to go to trial on sex charges involving a 14-year-old girl.
Tebano, 38, is married to Schenectady County Court Judge Karen Drago, also a Republican.
He had been facing misdemeanor charges of forcible touching, third degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor, all misdemeanors, from an alleged incident with the girl at his home in August, 2005.
He has been sentenced to 250 hours of community service, fined $295 and ordered to stay away from the girl.
Tebano's arrest came after an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of the New York State Police and the Youth Aid Bureau of the Schenectady Police Department.
Court records indicate that Tebano allegedly invited the teen to his home to watch the "Star Wars" trilogy, telling her that other people would be present but when she arrived, she found herself alone with Tebano.
After Tebano allegedly fondled the girl and when his attention was distracted, she fled by exiting through the back door. She was not physically harmed.
Tebano had denied the charges.
He had resigned as chairman of the county Republican Committee after his arrest, saying that he was burned out.
Schenectady County district attorney Robert Carney had disqualified himself from the case. Montgomery County DA James "Jed" Conboy was named as special prosecutor. 2-07-07
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© 2007 North
Country Gazette
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