A former Chicago high-school principal convicted of sexually assaulting five students has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Cook County Judge Francis Mahon sentenced James G. Moffat, who once held the city school system’s second-highest post, to the maximum term. He announced his decision after telling the former principal, “I went through my notes piece by piece to see if I could find anything in your favor, and I couldn’t.’'
Mr. Moffat was convicted in March of eight counts of taking indecent liberties with children and 16 counts of official misconduct for sexually abusing four boys and a girl in his school office from 1982 to 1984.
The judge said Mr. Moffat “used the very children that he was duty-bound to protect.’'
But Mr. Moffat persistently maintained his innocence, saying that the judge was biased against him. “The scales of justice were out of balance when this trial began,’' he said.
The county prosecutor, John Farrell, had requested the maximum sentence. “Instead of showing remorse and indicating a need for help, this defendant has gone on camera in public and continued with his arrogant attitude,’' he said.
The judge ordered Mr. Moffat jailed immediately.--DON SEVENER
