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Fort Lauderdale sex offender asks for prison over house arrest

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The Associated Press

Published: October 23, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE - A South Florida minister who pleaded no contest for impregnating his 15-year-old goddaughter has an unusual request.

Thirty-five-year-old Cory Cortezis Lewis on Thursday asked a judge to serve 1 1/2 years in prison instead of the 2-year house arrest sentence he got last week.

The problem?

Lewis says he can't live at his home because of Fort Lauderdale's tight restrictions on registered sex offenders. The house is 700 feet from a bus stop, violating an ordinance to keep offenders beyond 1,400 feet.

The judge turned down the request, saying Lewis got house arrest so he could support his seven children. He was sentenced on a charge of lewd or lascivious battery on a minor.

The victim said she'd rather have his financial help than see him in jail.

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