Chartiers Twp. man sentenced for sex assault
Kimberly Campbell and Gary Bates are escorted back to jail after a hearing in Washington County Court.
Gary W. Bates
Kimberly Campbell
A Chartiers Township man was sentenced Tuesday to 8 to 16 years in prison for his role in the sexual assault of two teenage girls.
Gary W. Bates, 43, of 611 Railroad Street, pleaded guilty before Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo to nine charges, including involuntary deviate sexual assault and indecent assault. As a part of a plea agreement, the remaining charges against Bates were not processed.
Bates, along with co-defendant Kimberly Campbell, 37, of the same address, was accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls, ages 13 and 19, April 1 and June 11 at their home in the village of Midland.
The 19-year-old, who has a mental disability, reportedly told detectives she was assaulted April 1. She told police Campbell gave her a soft drink mixed with vodka and then removed her clothes. Bates reportedly fondled her and forced her to perform a sex act. She told police she did not want to do it but was afraid of Campbell and Bates.
The younger girl told police she was visiting them June 11 when Campbell told her to go upstairs because it was cooler.
She was playing with Campbell’s phone while Campbell played a video game. Bates then allegedly turned the girl on her back and held her down. The girl started screaming. Bates reportedly fondled her.
Campbell is expected to appear before Costanzo today for a plea hearing. She faces numerous charges including criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated indecent assault of a person younger than 16, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and aggravated indecent assault of a person who suffers from a mental disability.
Campbell remains in Washington County jail.
When police arrested the pair in July, Bates was suffering from a stab wound. He told police he fell on his blade. Bates was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for medical treatment.
Costanzo also ordered Bates to undergo a evaluation to determine if he is a sexual predator, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and to register for the remainder of his life under the Sex Offenders Registration and Notification Act.
He was ordered not to have contact with the victims.
Bates’ attorney, Molly McGuire Gaussa, declined to comment after the hearing Tuesday.
Assistant District Attorney Kristin Clingerman said the plea was “satisfactory.”
“It saves the victims from having to take the stand and go through those horrors again,” she said. “They trusted him.”
Bates will remain in Washington County jail until he is transferred to a state prison.