A McAlester man found guilty in January by a Pittsburg County jury of lewd acts against a minor was formally sentenced Wednesday to prison.
David Lee Buck, 42, was originally charged in October 2022 with two felony counts of lewd molestation and a felony count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, according to documents filed in Pittsburg County District Court.
Jurors found Buck not guilty on the two counts of lewd molestation but found Buck guilty of the lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 charge and recommended the man serve three years in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
District Judge Mike Hogan, despite several character witnesses testifying on Buck’s behalf during the Wednesday afternoon hearing, sentenced Buck to serve the jury’s recommended sentence with credit for time served since being remanded into the custody of the Pittsburg County Jail in January.
Buck is also ordered to comply with the Sex Offender Registration Act. State statute states the charge comes with it a lifetime sex offender registration with address verification every 90 days.
Oklahoma state law also states Buck will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, the victim told investigators she woke up to Buck lying in bed with her and the man began to touch her before grabbing her and placing her on his lap while he kissed and bit her ear.
The victim also told investigators that Buck tried to get in the shower with her “because she took too long when showering,” the affidavit states.