Former New York State Senator Marc Panepinto has been sentenced to two months in prison and one year of supervised release for his guilty plea to a public corruption charge involving a female staffer.
In response to a request that Panepinto pay a fine in lieu of time in jail, the judge responded by saying the fine would be seen as a "slap on the wrist."
Investigators say Panepinto and a female staffer traveled to New York City on January 7, 2016 to attend a fundraiser for Panepinto. Following the event, Panepinto suggested to the staffer that they count the money from the fundraiser in her hotel room.
While in the room, investigators say Pantepinto made several unwanted sexual advances, both verbal and physical, towards the female staff member. She refused and asked that Panepinto leave her room. Panepinto did leave her room, but tried to get back into her room later that evening.