Man Admits Rubbing Girl’s Feet, Gets Probation For Sex Abuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A 43-year-old man who ran an upstate New York music studio has admitted sexually abusing a little girl by indulging in a foot fetish.

Michael Waite of the Syracuse suburb of Mattydale was sentenced Friday to 10 years of probation for his June guilty plea to sexual conduct against a child. He admitted he gave the girl foot rubs to pleasure himself for seven years starting when she was about 4. The girl was not a student at his studio.

The Post-Standard reports that the girl, now 12, spoke at Waite's sentencing and said he should go to jail.

Waite's lawyer, David Zukher, argued at trial that the girl had made up the allegations to hurt Waite. At sentencing, Zukher noted that a probation report indicated Waite had accepted responsibility.