FARMINGTON (AP) — A Jay man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing two teenage girls.
Joshua Welch was also sentenced last week to six years of probation after pleading guilty in October to 10 counts of unlawful sexual contact with the girls, who were under age 16. The state dismissed a gross sexual assault charge as part of a plea agreement.
Prosecutors say the abuse occurred between Jan. 1, 2007, and Aug. 15, 2011.
The Sun Journal reports that one victim told the court she doesn’t think she will recover from what was done to her.
A lawyer for the 32-year-old Welch says his client took responsibility so the victims would not have to testify. Welch apologized in court.
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