Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Lewd Acts With A Child, Recommends 130-Year Sentence

A Pottawatomie County jury found a man guilty of molesting two children nearly a decade ago.

The jury recommended Aaron Buck spend 130 years behind bars.

It is the first verdict back in the county since the pandemic lockdown began over a year ago.

Prosecutors said it is a signal to the public that crimes against children will not be tolerated.

Buck, 50, remains behind bars at the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center.

“Very often these people plead much less and this guy chose not to negotiate or work that process,” said Pottawatomie County District Attorney, Allan Grubb. “He just wanted his day in court, and he got his day in court.”

It was 2019 when both victims came forward.

According to court records, both victims said they were touched multiple times inappropriately between the ages of six and nine years old after they’d fallen asleep.

“I think that both of them believed that they were probably lone victims and they figured out that they were not the only victims to this man and they both came forward, this is the result,” said Grubb.

When questioned by investigators in 2019, Buck denied the allegations saying the girls were coached and it could have been someone else.

Investigators didn’t buy it, based on facts they’d gathered.

“These sentences are 85% sentences, so he will not be eligible for parole, probably for his lifetime,” said Grubb.

Prosecutors call the verdict a victory hoping it sends a message, loud and clear.

“We are going to hold them accountable, and we are going to remove these dangerous predators off the street to keep the community safe,” said Grubb.

Buck will be back in court on May 3, 2021 for sentencing.