Thousands sign petition demanding judge who let child rapist escape jail be removed from bench

More than 70,000 people are demanding the judge's dismissal

A judge is facing backlash after sentencing admitted child rapist James Piche (pictured) to probation. (AP)

A petition demanding a New York judge who sentenced an admitted child rapist to probation has grown in recent days, describing the punishment as a “slap on the wrist.”

James McClusky, a Supreme Court judge in Jefferson County, sentenced 25-year-old school bus driver to 10 years of probation after he pleaded building to raped a 14-year-old girl.

Piche could have served a maximum of four years, the New York State Court system said in a statement defending the judge, while noting the sentencing was within typical ranges for plea deals involving similar offences.

The MoveOn.org petition has received more than 70,000 signatures nationwide, which demands the judge be removed “from his position immediately for his blatant disregard for survivors of sexual assault.”

“Judge McClusky cannot be trusted to protect survivors of sexual assault, and he needs to be removed from the bench,” a statement posted along with petition read Friday. “According to court records, Piche lured her and other minors to his house, gave them alcohol — and then raped her. It's horrifying that this even needs to be said, but one child raped is too many.”

Eric Swartz, an attorney for Piche, acknowledged his client was guilty of a crime while saying there was no evidence an attack had taken place against the young girl.

“Is it okay to have sex with a teenager? No, it’s not,” the lawyer said in a statement, local news outlet WDRW reported. “He pled guilty to that. He's suffering the consequences of that."

As part of his sentencing, Piche has been ordered to register as a Level 1 sex offender — a classification that does not require him to appear on online databases for sex offenders — and to pay $1,375 (£1,046) in fines. He is also no longer allowed to be left alone with teenagers age 17 and under, according to the Watertown Daily Times.

The victim’s mother said in a statement read out in court that her daughter now suffers from “depression and anxiety.”

“I wish Shane Piche would have received time in jail for the harm he caused to my child,” she said.