Ex-North Belle Vernon official faces up to 10 years for molestation

Former North Belle Vernon councilwoman Heather Prinkey will spend at least two years in prison for molesting a teenage girl she coached on a local softball team.

Heather Prinkey, 37, pleaded guilty on Thursday to felony charges that she had improper sexual contact with the girl from October 2007 through September 2009.

The teenager told police the sexual contact with Prinkey started when she was 12 and progressed from kissing and groping to experimentation with sexual devices.

In court yesterday Prinkey offered no comments, but in a written petition she explained her reason for pleading guilty.

"I am ready to put this ordeal behind me and move on with my life," Prinkey wrote.

Defense attorney Noah Geary declined to comment yesterday.

Prinkey was arrested last summer after she met with police, first at her home and five days later at the Westmoreland County Courthouse. It was during that second meeting, police said, that they were given letters Prinkey said she wrote to her accuser offering an apology for her actions.

The deal agreed to by the prosecution required Prinkey to admit guilt rather than allow her to plead no contest to the charges, according to Assistant District Attorney Jackie Knupp.

Prinkey pleaded guilty to charges of statutory assault, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault. The prosecution dropped two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and one charge of corruption of minors.

Under terms of the deal, she will be sentenced to serve two to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years on probation and a lifetime requirement that she register her whereabouts with the state police.

Westmoreland County Judge Debra Pezze will formally sentence Prinkey in about three months after she is evaluated by the state's Sexual Offenders Assessment Board.

"I will accept this plea," Pezze told Prinkey. "I recognize there are issues with this case, and sparing the child from having to testify speaks to your credit."

The victim was not in the courtroom. Prinkey resigned from North Belle Vernon council a week after she was arrested.