A former USD 383 paraeducator was sentenced to prison for child sex crimes in Riley County District Court on Thursday.
32-year-old Aaron Zachry was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on single counts of indecent liberties with a child and sexual exploitation of a child. Zachry is eligible for parole after 25 years. The terms will be served concurrently.
Zachry had initially pleaded not guilty to 37 counts last December but following revelations he was facing similar charges in Geary and Pottawatomie County, he agreed to a current plea bargain charging him with the two counts.
Public defender Cole Hawver argued in court Thursday that while Zachry’s crimes were horrible and he deserved to be punished, a lesser sentence should be imposed due to the extent of his crimes, citing past case law supporting his argument. He also noted a lack of criminal record should allow him to receive rehabilitation for his crimes.
Deputy Riley County Attorney Trinity Muth refuted Hawver’s argument, noting Zachry had initially been charged with 37 counts and had several other cases pending in other counties, before reaching a plea agreement. The state had argued for consecutive sentences, essentially 50 years to life, to avoid Zachry becoming eligible for parole in 25 years.
Zachry, a former paraeducator at Northview Elementary, becomes the second former USD 383 employee this year to be sentenced on child sex crime convictions. Joshua Penabaz, a former preschool nurse at College Hill, was sentenced to life in prison for child sex crimes in July by Judge Lewison.
