Man gets 5 years for fondling stepdaughter

December 05, 2000

Man gets 5 years for fondling stepdaughter

A Clear Spring man who admitted fondling his stepdaughter three or four times a week for seven to nine years was sentenced last week to five years in prison.

Judge Donald Beachley imposed a 10-year prison term on Nov. 30, but suspended all but five years, according to court records.

The 36-year-old man, whose name is being withheld to protect his stepdaughter's identity, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual child abuse in July, according to court records.

Beachley ordered the man to register as a sex offender. He is to be on probation for three years following his release from prison.

According to court records, Maryland State Police were alerted to the crimes on March 15 by a representative of the Washington County Department of Social Services.

The victim, now 17, told police her stepfather had been touching her breasts and her genital area under her clothes since she was 8 years old.

She told police her stepfather would come into her bedroom while she was asleep, court records said.

The man was touching himself as well, court records said.

Based on the girl's statements, police interviewed the stepfather who admitted touching the girl in increasing frequency over seven years.

- Marlo Barnhart

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