Former youth coach Benjamin Thomas Schuler faces a sentence ranging from probation to life in prison plus 40 years at a hearing scheduled for this morning in Douglas County District Court.
Today is the date set by District Judge Dave Gamble for Schuler to be sentenced for three felonies involving sexual contact with 13-year-old girls.
Whatever sentence Gamble orders, the 24-year-old will face lifetime supervision and must register as a sex offender with law enforcement no matter where he lives.
Schuler admitted in July to use of a minor as a subject of a sexual portrayal in a performance, attempted lewdness with a child under 14 and attempted use of a minor as a subject of a sexual portrayal in a performance.
The first charge is a Class A felony which carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison, plus a $100,000 fine. The other two charges are Class B felonies with penalties of 2-20 years in prison.
Schuler could also be eligible for probation if a psycho-sexual evaluation determines that he is not a high risk to reoffend.
The incidents that led to the allegations occurred between Dec. 1, 2009, and Feb. 24, according to the criminal complaint.
"I encouraged her (the 13-year-old victim) to give me a sexual picture," Schuler told District Judge Dave Gamble when he pleaded guilty. "It was through a text message."
On the second charge, Schuler said he inappropriately touched the same girl through her clothing while they were on a school bus on Kingsbury Grade.
The third charge involved a different 13-year-old girl.
"It was the same as count one," Schuler said. "I encouraged her to send me a sexual picture."
He told Gamble he knew the girls were 13 and that the contacts and photos were transmitted via MySpace and text messaging from his Gardnerville residence.
Under terms of the plea agreement, the district attorney has agreed to recommend that the sentences be served concurrently, but that is up to the discretion of the judge.
