NORWICH – A former Sherburne-Earlville High School custodian pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with an underage student and was sentenced in County Court Monday.

Shawn M. Clark, 28, County Rd. 24, Sherburne, pleaded guilty to 3rd degree rape, also known as statutory rape.

Clark was sentenced to serve six months as agreed upon in his plea bargain agreement and will become a registered sex offender, provided he does not commit any crimes before his actual term begins later this month. The court gave him a few weeks to earn some money before going to prison, most of it to help pay the court’s mandatory surcharges and fees which totaled nearly $2,000.

“I do not believe Mr. Clark is a bad man and does not fit the typical sex offender stereotype. He got himself caught up in a situation of personal temptation and obviously made some bad decisions and he is aware of that,” said Public Defender Alan Gordon.