FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — A former school bus driver who had an inappropriate relationship with an Emlenton teenage girl in 2014 was sentenced to one to two years behind bars this morning.
According to court documents, President Judge Robert L. Boyer handed down a sentence of twelve months less one day to twenty-four months less one day confinement, with credit for nine days served, followed by eight years of probation to 43-year-old Louis James Saluga, of Hilliards, Butler County, in the Venango County Court of Commons Pleas this morning.
He will also be required to register as a sex offender
On October 23, 2017, Saluga pleaded guilty to Statutory Sexual Assault: 8-11 Years Older, a second-degree felony.
As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:
– Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Person Less Than 16 Yrs Age, Felony 1
– Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion, Misdemeanor 1
– Indecent Assault Person Less 16 Yrs Age, Misdemeanor 2
Saluga will begin serving his sentence on Monday, June 18.
Details of the case:
A criminal complaint filed by Franklin-based State Police Trooper O’Toole indicates that Saluga, who was 39-years-old at the time, is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old female victim multiple times in 2014.
The investigation stemmed from a 2014 police report made by a Scrubgrass Township man who indicated that he looked at his 15-year-old daughter’s cell phone and discovered various text messages of a concerning nature to and from a man named ‘Lou,’ a complaint states, who his daughter later identified as a school bus driver for her school.
During a later interview, the victim stated that she and Saluga had vaginal sex six to seven times, and she performed oral sex on him approximately seven times.
The victim indicated that the sexual acts were not forced; however, she said that she felt pressured to have sex, according to the criminal complaint.
On April 6, 2017, a report documenting DNA comparisons was obtained from the PA State Police Bureau of Forensic Services.
The report revealed that Saluga’s DNA matched the ‘Y’ chromosome haplotype found on a blanket and a pair of underwear belonging to the victim.
A warrant was subsequently issued for Saluga’s arrest.
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