BUFFALO, N.Y. — A well-known Buffalo barber has pled guilty to two counts of sexually abusing an underage victim as part of a four-count indictment unsealed this summer.
Justin Barker accepted the plea deal in Erie County Court on Monday before Judge Sheila DiTullio.
Both counts are for a criminal sexual act in the second degree (Class D felonies) and stem from two different encounters that took place in 2018, according to the indictment.
The plea deal, which includes the third and fourth counts in that indictment, was reached in consultation with the family of the victim, the Erie County District Attorney's Office, and Mr. Barker's attorney James McLeod.
Barker started crying as Judge DiTullio discussed his possible sentence which runs anywhere from 2-7 years in prison. The judge added that the court is committed to a charge of anywhere from 10 years probation up to a split sentence of six months in jail and 10 years probation.
As part of the plea deal, Barker waived his right to appeal and is restricted from contacting his victim via an order of protection.
Barker will also be required to register as a sex offender regardless of his sentence.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place on February 21 at 10:00 a.m. in Judge Sheila DiTullio's court.
Barker remains out on $75,000 bail.
