Trending
PARKERSBURG -- A former parole officer in Parkersburg with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a female parolee, federal officials said.
Anthony DeMetro, 44, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. Distict Court in the Southern District of West Virginia to 15 years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release and registration as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act for violating the civil rights of a female parolee by sexually assaulting her while he was serving as her parole officer.
DeMetro was indicted in September 2022 on seven counts involving two victims.
In a plea ageement, the government agreed to dismiss six of the charges in return for a guilty plea to Count 2, deprivation of the victim's rights under color of law including sexual abuse and attempted aggravated sexual abuse.
According to court documents, DeMetro admitted that on or about April 16, 2021, he used physical force and his position, authority and status as a state parole officer to force a female parolee to perform oral sex on him against her will. At the time, the parolee was attempting to complete residential drug and alcohol treatment as a condition of her parole
DeMetro admitted he knew the parolee did not want to have sex with him, but that he coerced and forced her into doing so anyway for his own sexual gratification.
"We thank the survivor for having the courage and strength to come forward to tell her story," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable public officials who exploit their power and authority to sexually assault and harm vulnerable people."
Clarke's comments were reiterated by Will Thompson, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.
"I want to thank the victim again for being brave enough to come forward, even though she was putting her personal safety and freedom at risk," Thompson said.
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.
"Mr. DeMetro was in a position of power and authority," said Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office. "He used that authority to take advantage of and prey on a vulnerable woman. This behavior was in violation of the oath he took and cannot be tolerated. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate color of law abuses by public officials."
Trial Attorneys Kathryn E. Gilbert and Daniel E. Grunert of the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Coleman and Nowles Heinrich for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.