A Camillus man was sentenced in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to a 2.5- to 5-year prison sentence for sexually touching a 14-year-old Weedsport girl on a bus trip between Buffalo and Syracuse during his prison's work release program.

Alexander Blanton, 26, of 22 Eagle Lane, Camillus, was still in the custody of the Buffalo Correctional Facility at the time for the possession of a weapon, forgery and criminal mischief. When the sexual contact occurred, Blanton was traveling between Buffalo and Syracuse on a temporary work release program. Temporary release programs often allow inmates who have health issues, who go to school or are working at a job, to temporarily leave the prison for a predetermined amount of time during the day.

The bus was traveling through several counties on the New York State Thruway, but Cayuga County got jurisdiction to prosecute the case because the victim was a county resident, Auburn District Attorney Jon Budelmann said.

Blanton will serve the new sentence consecutively with the sentence he was already serving at the time of the incident.

Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich also placed an order of protection for the child and said Blanton would have to register as a sex offender.

For more from county court, read Wednesday's edition.