Herald Staff Writer

GROVE CITY AREA— Laura M. Shaffer probably should not have been associating with 13-year-old boys, but she didn’t have any other friends, said her defense attorney Randall T. Hetrick.

Hetrick laid out a grim picture of his client, who admitted indecently assaulting and corrupting the morals of two 13-year-old boys.

Ms. Shaffer, 20, of 111 Dale St., Grove City, who will spend at least 8 months in Mercer County Jail, has a lengthy juvenile criminal record and mental health problems, Hetrick said. She has only a ninth-grade education, and a low IQ and self-esteem, he said.

“We would just ask the court for whatever leniency is possible,” Hetrick said Friday.

According to state police, Ms. Shaffer inappropriately touched a 13-year-old boy Sept. 15, 2005, at a home in Springfield Township. The boy told police besides the touching, which occurred more than 100 times over a year’s time, Ms Shaffer also performed oral sex and intercourse with the boy at the home and a nearby park on numerous occasions.

A second victim, also 13, told a similar story of multiple contacts over seven month’s time. Ms. Shaffer was charged with more than 500 counts of corruption of minors, indecent assault and criminal sexual contact.

In a second case also involving the first victim, Ms. Shaffer broke into the boy's home Aug. 15, 2005, and awoke the boy by performing oral sex on him, police said. She was charged with burglary, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, harassment and sexual assault of a minor, a total of nine counts.

Assistant Mercer County District Attorney Timothy Bonner called Ms. Shaffer’s conduct “reprehensible” and Common Pleas Judge Thomas R. Dobson agreed.

Dobson sentenced Ms. Shafer to 8 to 18 months in jail, followed by a term of parole when she is released for the remainder of the 18 months, and then a year of probation.

He also ordered her to pay costs, be evaluated by Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission and obtain her general equivalency diploma.

While Ms. Shaffer was not deemed a sexually violent offender by a state review board or Dobson, she will have to report her whereabouts annually to state police or, if she moves out of state, to the local police department. She also will have to report when she moves or changes jobs.

Dobson also forbade her from associating with anyone younger than 18.
“You should never be around young children,” he said.

Herald Staff Writer Matthew Snyder contributed to this report.