LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — A former police officer who pleaded guilty to using his authority to pressure women into sex acts in Luzerne County has been sentenced.
Former Ashley Borough police officer, Mark Icker, kept his mouth shut under his mask as he walked out of the federal courthouse in Scranton. Inside Icker learned he is to spend 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty to felony sexual assault charges.
"We're just happy to put it behind, not only Mr. Icker but the victims and we understand that the court felt the need that that sentence of 180 months would be appropriate," said Icker's defense attorney Bernard Brown.
Icker pleaded guilty last year to using his position as a police officer in Ashley borough to forcing himself on two women in 2018 after he pulled the victim's over during traffic stops.
He also admitted trying to coerce three other women to perform sex acts in exchange for not filing charges against them.
Two of his victims read statements during the sentencing and spoke with Newswatch 16 outside the courthouse anonymously. They shared with what life has been like since getting pulled over by Icker.
"I want him to realize how damaged I am. Everything that he caused me. Everything that he changed, cause I wasn't like this as a person before. So I wanted him to sit there and look at me and realize how hurt I am. How I've changed," said one victim.
Inside the courtroom the judge rejected the recommended sentence in the plea agreement of 12 years. Instead giving Mark Icker 15 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervision. He must also have a mental health evaluation and he will need to register as a sex offender. Something the victims asked the judge for at the sentencing.
"That's what I really wanted," added the victim.
"That's what we wanted," added a second victim.
"That's... You know, how can you get time and not be registered? Makes no sense to me so I believe that he had to get sentenced and get registered. That's really what I wanted," explained the first.
"We would not have had justice unless he was on the registry, we both felt like that," added the second.
The victims continued to tell Newswatch 16 how the sentence made them feel after dealing with this since December of 2018.
"He was cold towards us and we were treated unfairly by him and he is a predator," said the second victim. "Our voices were heard and I think that was the best part. I couldn't wait to see if justice would fully be served and then finally it was served. Justice is finally served and I am so happy and so proud," added the first.
The victims told Newswatch 16 the advice they have for anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation.
In unison they said, "Don't be afraid."
"Don't be afraid," explained the first victim. "Don't be afraid, don't be ashamed, don't be embarrassed, have the courage to stand up and speak for yourself, you never know who can come behind you."
Icker is still on home arrest now, but will need to report to federal prison on Friday, August 7th. Another Luzerne County police officer is waiting for his day in county court for similar charges. Former Wilkes-Barre police officer Robert Collins will is scheduled to stand trial on October 19th.
RELATED: More Charges for Suspended Cop