A former Penfield Central School District employee was arraigned in Monroe County Court on Oct. 8 after a grand jury indicted him on six counts tied to rape and sexual abuse allegations. Peyton Pace pleaded not guilty, and the case has already prompted the district to notify families even though officials say he has not worked there since January.
According to the Democrat and Chronicle, Pace was indicted following an investigation led by the Monroe County District Attorney's Office. The paper reports the indictment includes three counts of third-degree rape, a felony, and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, a misdemeanor. All six charges stem from Pace's alleged actions involving one other person, the newspaper reports, though it does not identify that individual.
That count breakdown is not consistent across local coverage. 13WHAM reports the indictment instead charged Pace with one count of third-degree rape and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse. The discrepancy between the two accounts has not been resolved, and no court or district attorney document was made available to confirm either version.
Bail Set, Next Court Date Looms
Pace pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, and bail was set at $10,000 cash or a $150,000 bond, 13WHAM reports. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 29, six days away.
Penfield officials have not disclosed how long Pace worked for the district or what position he held, the Democrat and Chronicle notes. The station's report adds that Pace has not been employed by the district since January, though the exact date his employment ended was not specified.
District Notifies Families, Withholds Details
The Penfield Central School District sent a letter to families regarding Pace's arraignment, according to RochesterFirst. The outlet reports the district did not reveal any further details about the case beyond that notification.
The case remains pending ahead of the Oct. 29 court date, and it is not yet known how the proceedings will unfold.
