Former West Seneca teacher sentenced for sodomizing pupil
Former West Seneca middle school teacher and coach Anthony D. Harper apologized Thursday as he was sent to prison for two years for sodomizing a 13-year-old boy.
Harper, 34, told State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski he wanted to say “just how sorry I am” before he was taken from court in handcuffs. He had been free on bail since his arrest after the Aug. 2, 2007, incident in his Teachers Lane apartment in Hamburg.
Harper pleaded guilty this Aug. 12 to a single count of criminal sexual act — sodomy. The judge also imposed seven years of post-prison supervision and, at the request of Deputy District Attorney Rosanne Eimer Johnson, ordered Harper to have no contact with the boy until at least 2018.
Telling Harper, “The community will be safe from your predatory behavior,” Michalski also reminded him that he will now remain a closely watched sex offender. The judge also fined him $1,370. Harper could have received up to seven years in prison on his plea.
The boy and his family were not in court for Thursday’s sentencing. But Johnson said the mother and stepfather wanted her to speak of the psychological “devastation” Harper inflicted on their family.
The boy was one of Harper’s former pupils at West Seneca East Middle School, where Harper had taught for 11 years and coached wrestling.
Johnson said the boy asked her to tell the court that he wanted Harper “to pay for what he did” to him.
The boy’s mother said he is no longer either a good student or interested in sports, has “completely lost the ability to trust” others and will need future psychological counseling to help him deal with everyday life situations.
Thomas J. Eoannou, Harper’s attorney, told the judge Harper had to give up his right to teach in the state and has been getting counseling.
Harper was arrested by Hamburg police six days after the sodomy incident. His guilty plea 12 months later came after prosecutors consulted with the victim’s parents.
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