A former Boston firefighter was sentenced Friday to two years of supervised probation for sexually assaulting a female colleague at a firehouse.
A Boston judge also ordered David Sanchez to undergo counseling and, if deemed necessary by state officials, to register as a sex offender.
Sanchez was convicted of assault and battery and indecent assault and battery following a two-day trial last week.
Prosecutors said Sanchez tried to kiss a female colleague and assaulted her in a Jamaica Plain firehouse before she was able to escape in January 2018.
During Friday's sentencing in West Roxbury Municipal Court, Sanchez's victim said she's dealt with depression the last two years and still relives the trauma of that night. She also said Boston residents "deserve better" from their first responders.
"For two years I relived what happened that night over and over again," the said in court as she read her impact statement. "The residents of Boston deserve better from their first responders. The choices he made should not reflect those of the city of Boston or its fire department. This individual brought shame to my firehouse as well and my colleagues doubted me for two years."
Sanchez's attorney, arguing for leniency, said his client is a "decorated Marine" and father who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and should not be defined by "this terrible incident."
"We're going to continue to fight on his behalf. He's been a good man - a good record. A marine he's served his country and I think the full story will come out," defense attorney Isaac Borenstein said.
Sanchez's victim is also suing the fire department over its handling of the incident. The Boston Globe reports just 16 of the city's 1,500 firefighters are women.
