Tonawanda News — A former Ken-Ton basketball coach was sentenced Thursday to three years probation and 30 days in jail for sending inappropriate text messages to students on the team last year.
Town of Tonawanda Justice Mark J. Gruber imposed the sentence.
Robert Leary, 29, pleaded guilty in June to two charges of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of aggravated harassment.
The incidents occurred between June and December of 2011, when Leary sent sexually-suggestive text messages to middle school students and requested similarly-themed images from them in return.
Leary faced a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
His punishment also includes several orders of protection at the request of Assistant District Attorney Peter J. Marche, as well as 40 individual terms of his probation.
During the probation, Leary will be prohibited from using drugs and alcohol, has restrictions on phone and computer usage, and extensive limitations on his encounters with youth — in many cases, any interaction with those under the age of 18 will require a court-approved chaperone.
He is also required to have periodic evaluations by professionals.
Leary was represented by attorney John R. Nuchereno.
Gruber directed Leary to report to Alden Correctional Facility Friday afternoon to begin his sentence.
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