Plea for sex offender over misconduct

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Jamestown sex offender will not face life in prison because of suspected police misconduct.

Eric Chant is receiving 25-years behind bars after taking a plea deal for first degree rape. He was accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl last summer and could have faced 25-years to life.

But Chant was offered a plea, partially because a Jamestown Police officer has been accused of potentially tampering with evidence in other cases.

Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley said, "While he was employed as an evidence custodian with the Jamestown Police Department was misappropriating evidence from the evidence room. We were unable to connect him necessarily to the chant evidence in anyway, but obviously this creates a problem for us."

Foley will now be notifying all of the defense attorneys whose cases may be affected by this developing situation. The accused officer has been placed on administrative leave.

More details in the case are expected on Friday.