CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland police officer Matthew Piter has been sentenced to probation for three years just a few weeks after being convicted of gross sexual imposition. He has also been designated as a Tier I sex offender.
He faced a maximum sentence of three years behind bars.
Piter and his attorney also indicated during Monday's sentencing hearing that they plan to appeal the conviction. Piter, however, declined to make a statement during the sentencing hearing.
Piter, who has since resigned from the Cleveland Division of Police, was found not guilty of rape in the case when the judge announced his verdict in the bench trial earlier this month.
We streamed the full sentencing hearing, which you can watch in the player below:
RELATED: Survivors feel relief after suspended Cleveland police officer convicted of gross sexual imposition
The trial was connected to charges involving two separate accusations dating back to 2017 and 2019. Piter, who was arrested on Halloween 2019, was later indicted in early January 2020.
One of the women spoke prior to sentencing to briefly discuss her life after the incident: "He assaulted me when I didn't want that. I lost my trust in law enforcement and other authoritative figures. I just didn't feel safe in Cleveland anymore, so I had to move back to Pennsylvania to feel safe."
The Cleveland Division of Police tells 3News Piter was hired in 2016, but was suspended without pay while the judicial process unfolded.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- RELATED: Matthew Piter resigns from Cleveland Division of Police following gross sexual imposition conviction
- RELATED: Suspended Cleveland police officer convicted of gross sexual imposition, found not guilty of rape
- RELATED: 2nd accuser publicly comes forward with rape allegations against Cleveland police officer
- RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: One of two women accusing Cleveland police officer of rape speaks out for the first time
Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published from Piter's verdict on Feb. 7, 2022.