By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
PONTIAC ? Lake Orion optometrist Robert E. Deck was found guilty on one count of indecent exposure and was sentenced Tuesday, July 29, at Oakland County Circuit Court.
Judge Shalina Kumar sentenced Deck after hearing from both defense attorney Jerome Sabbota and Special Victims Unit prosecutor Tricia Dare.
Deck pled no contest to aggravated indecent exposure on June 24. After a plea bargain, the court dropped the ‘aggravated? circuit court misdemeanor, to the lesser count.
Aggravated indecent exposure is a more serious offense and requires that the person charged fondled his or her genitals. Indecent exposure involves exposure of private parts without fondling.
Indecent exposure is punishable by up to one year in jail. Aggravated indecent exposure is punishable by up to two years in prison.
Deck was sentenced to 12 months of probation, the continuation of current mental health treatment and is required to perform 60 hours of community service.
He is prohibited from having contact with the 33-year-old female victim, cannot engage in assault or threatening behavior, and must report to probation regularly for the year.
The court did not order alcohol or drug assessment for probation, although that was the original recommendation in a sentencing report.
Deck is also required to maintain or seek employment. His office at 81 Indianwood Rd. #1 has remained open during the court case.
He is required to pay a crime victim right fee, a supervision fee and state costs not to exceed $1,000.
In October 2013 Deck was arraigned at the 52-3 District Court before Magistrate Maria Soma after allegedly masturbating in front of the victim in his doctor’s office after hours.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, the 33-year-old Orion Township woman told police that Deck requested she come to his personal office after she put in new contacts, where he allegedly masturbated in front of her.
The woman recorded the audio on her I-phone that was given to police as evidence.
She was not present at the July 29 sentencing.