Williamsport man sentenced to two to six years in sex assault case involving minor
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Kyle Lee Cassler, 35, 2120 Mill Lane, will serve two to six years in prison, Judge Ryan Tira ruled Tuesday morning.
Cassler was initially charged with statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, corrupting the morals of a minor and indecent assault in September of last year after it was revealed that had engaged in sexual relations with a female teenage minor between March and mid-May of 2023 in Old Lycoming Township.
On Jan. 12, Cassler entered into a plea deal by pleading guilty to one count of statutory sexual assault.
"I'm sorry for the crime I did," Cassler said in a letter read aloud by defense attorney Peter Lovecchio.
In the letter, Cassler stated that he "felt horrible" and apologized to the victim and her family, adding that he knew his actions were wrong and recognized that they had consequences.
The abuse changed the way the victim now lives her life, she said in an impact statement read before the court.
She now views the world differently and has stopped trusting people, including friends and family, the statement said.
The victim expressed her wish that Cassler had received more jail time, saying him being out of prison that quickly is "terrifying," and citing her fear that he may do it to someone else.
The sentence is the result of Cassler taking responsibility early on in the case, Assistant District Attorney Phoebe Yates told Tira.
He waived his preliminary hearing, and was quick to offer entrance into a plea agreement, she said.
"I'm always hesitant to accept agreements in cases like this with lighter sentences because I don't want to diminish the defendant's actions," Tira said, but accepted the sentence out of respect for the prosecution, he said.
In addition to the prison sentence for which Cassler will receive 266 days credit for time served, he will be required to serve a three year parole term upon his release and register as a lifetime sex offender.