Sex offender cuts 8-year sentence to 20 months by getting degrees

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A former assistant swim coach who inappropriately touched and kissed a 14-year-old will be released from prison early because he earned a bachelor’s degree.

Christopher Wheat pleaded guilty to two sexual misconduct with a minor charges for the incidents when he was a Lawrence North High School assistant swim coach. His victim was on the team.

Despite being sentenced to eight years in prison, Wheat is scheduled for release on Thursday after serving only 20 months behind bars.

Indiana Department of Corrections officials say Wheat received four years of credit for good behavior. He also received 365 days of credit for an associate degree and 489 days of credit for a bachelor’s degree.

Indiana Law allows inmates to take free college classes.

He earned both degrees through Oakland City University.

“He's gaming the system. And I think the department of correction, by its interpretation (of the law), is allowing him to do so” said Judge Carol Orbison, who originally sentenced Wheat.

It turns out Wheat didn’t complete all the course work in prison to earn the two degrees.

The 1995 Ball State graduate transferred 45 credit hours over to Oakland City University.

He applied those credit hours to each of the two degrees he earned behind bars.

The DOC gave Wheat full credit for the two degrees even though half of the credit hours came from college courses Wheat had completed nearly 20 years ago.

“I am just outraged. I’m disgusted. It is gut wrenching” said State Senator Jim Merritt.

He plans to introduce new legislation next year designed to keep other felons from taking advantage of the offender college degree program.

“As for sex offenders, I will be pushing not to have education credits to lessen their sentence” said Merritt.

The family of the victim is angry at the development. Family members released the following statement:

"Our family is outraged that this confessed child sex offender has satisfied an eight year prison sentence with only nineteen months served. Both the Indiana Department of Corrections and the Oakland City University should be ashamed for their roles in helping Christopher Wheat manipulate the system. Giving him two college degrees based on transfer credits from almost twenty years ago isn’t right. Why would they approve degrees in Computer Technology for a Sex Offender who is restricted from using computers and the internet? It feels to us that Oakland City University and the IN DOC are more concerned with the rights of the criminals than they are with the victims and our community."

Wheat still must serve two years with Marion County Community Corrections, which he'll serve in the work release program. However, he could also cut that sentence short with good behavior.