By Ron Richter on Thu 04/15/2010 12:15pm
GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) - A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper has been ordered to serve four to seven years in prison after being convicted of exposing himself to a 5-year-old girl. A jury convicted Jay Gruwell in December of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor. He had faced up to 15 years in prison. Gruwell had been free on bail until his sentencing Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Gruwell exposed himself in May at a Gillette home while he was off-duty. During his trial, the 23-year veteran of the patrol maintained his innocence and told jurors he confessed out of fear. His attorney, Gay Woodhouse, said after the trial that Gruwell plans to appeal.
