By NANCY DRURY DUNCAN, Eastern Shore Post —
A 72-year-old Onancock man convicted of sexual battery after a September 2023 incident at the Onley Family YMCA will spend 90 days in jail.
John Lee Shreaves entered the YMCA men’s sauna. A man was there with his eyes closed listening to music, said Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan.
The man felt a touch and then realized Shreaves had his mouth on his penis. Morgan said the man pushed Shreaves away, left the sauna, and went home and told his wife what happened.
Together they went to the police and reported the assault.
The victim was taken for a sexual assault exam. Results of a DNA test showed Shreaves could not be eliminated as a suspect.
Shreaves was seen on YMCA surveillance video entering and leaving the locker room at the time of the incident, Morgan said.
When arrested, Shreaves told police the act was consensual.
In a plea agreement, Shreaves entered an Alford plea in exchange for the charge being reduced to a misdemeanor. While having the same effect as a guilty plea, an Alford plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges the commonwealth has enough evidence for a conviction.
Morgan said he entered into the agreement because of the difficult nature of the crime.
Defense attorney Jarrett McCormack argued for a 12-month suspended sentence because of the defendant’s age and health conditions.
He said his client was “extremely remorseful” and that there had been no further similar incidents.
Judge Lynwood W. Lewis sentenced Shreaves to 12 months in jail with all but 90 days suspended. He was permitted to delay reporting to jail until Oct. 31.