A judge sentenced a Lexington, Neb., man to 20 years in prison Monday for sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl while he baby-sat her.
East Central Judicial District Judge John Irby ordered James Clarence Newcombe, 32, to serve 15 years of the sentence in prison with the remaining five years on supervised probation.
Assistant Cass County State's Attorney Gary Delorme had asked for a 20-year sentence followed by 10 years of supervised probation, saying he believed Newcombe was at a high risk to re-offend.
Delorme said he was extremely bothered that while undergoing his pre-sentence investigation, Newcombe said he had abused up to 10 other victims who had not reported the incidents to police.
"He's indicated that he is a threat to the community," Delorme said.
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Newcombe's defense attorney, Mark Beauchene, suggested Irby order Newcombe to serve five years of a 10-year sentence, saying his client had himself been the victim of sexual abuse and now suffers from delusions.
Newcombe asked Irby to go along with Beauchene's request, saying he took responsibility and no longer blamed the victim. He had earlier said that she came on to him.
"It's not her fault at all," he said. "I took advantage of her."
Newcombe admitted in April that he sexually assaulted the girl with his fingers on three to four separate occasions and forcing her to touch him while he baby-sat, according to Cass County District Court documents.
In 2006, Newcombe was living in Fargo and working in construction.
By pleading guilty to the Class A felony gross sexual imposition charge, two Class AA felony gross sexual imposition charges he also faced were dropped. He faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole for the Class AA felony charges.
Delorme said he agreed to the deal because he thought making the girl endure a trial would have been too difficult.
Newcombe was given credit for 240 days in custody and must complete sex offender treatment while in prison.
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Brittany Lawonn at (701) 241-5541
