Steamboat Pilot & Today

A Steamboat Springs man pleaded guilty to harassing his former nanny Tuesday.

The man, who was cleared of more severe charges two weeks ago, said earlier that he would plead guilty to harassment to "end this nightmare."

Routt County Judge James Garrecht sentenced the man to 48 hours of community service and one year of unsupervised probation for the crime, which is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

The harassment charge implies that the man verbally derided the alleged victim, a 28-year-old Steamboat Springs woman. At best, the man raised his voice to her when she accused him of making sexual advances, the man's attorney, Jeff Pagliuca, said earlier.

Garrecht issued a restraining order against the man; he cannot go near the victim for a year.

The man, who was accused of making sexual advances toward his child's nanny and threatening her if she deported him, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree criminal trespass, harassment, intimidating a witness and indecent exposure in February.

District Judge Michael O'Hara dismissed the charges at the request of the District Attorney's Office two weeks ago.

Deputy District Attorney Erick Knaus filed the new harassment charge after the May 7 hearing.

The victim appeared in court Tuesday to express her disappointment with the case's outcome.

Cheryl Hardy-Moore, another attorney for the man, disagreed.

"We believe this is an appropriate disposition," Hardy-Moore said.

Neither party likely would leave the courtroom feeling that justice had been served, Garrecht said.

"This case is about as polarized as any case I've ever seen, in terms of what people think is right and wrong," Garrecht said.

-- To reach Danie Harrelson call 871-4203

or e-mail dharrelson@steamboatpilot.com