ITHACA, N.Y. — Two Newfield men accused of raping a teen have pleaded guilty to felony first-degree rape, court records show.
Leslie M. Youst pleaded guilty to the charge in April. According to documents, it is still undetermined whether he will be sentenced as a youthful offender or adult. If he is sentenced as a youth, he will face one-and-a-third to four years of incarceration. If sentenced as an adult, he faces seven years in prison and 20 years of post-release supervision.
Judge Richard Rich will ultimately determine which sentence he receives.
Youst was 18 when he and Jeffrey W. Ponton, 46, were taken into custody in February after raping a teen on Jan. 31 in the town of Newfield.
Ponton’s plea deal indicates that he will be incarcerated for 10 years with 20 years of post-release supervision. A 38-year order of protection will also be issued against him.
A jail official said Tuesday that both men are still incarcerated at the Tompkins County Jail on $100,000 bail or $200,000 bond. They’re scheduled to be sentenced May 26 at the Tompkins County courthouse.