Former deputy sentenced to 15 years

OCALA, Fla. (AP) - A former Marion County deputy has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexual misconduct with a teenager.

A judge sentenced 43-year-old Gabriel Pizzini on Monday. He was convicted in July of lewd and lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious conduct and attempted tampering with evidence. He had faced up to 35 years.

Prosecutors said Pizzini groped a 14-year-old female he was transporting in February 2007. They said he also stalled his patrol car on a side street, where he made her lift her shirt so he could take a photo of her breasts.

Pizzini denied the charges and said the photo later recovered from his squad car was planted by the girl's friend.

Pizzini's prison term will be followed by 15 years of sex offender probation.