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Last updated on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
(BLOOMINGTON) - A Bloomington man convicted of sexually abusing a girl for six years was sentenced Monday to 58 years in prison.
Roland "Ron" Ward, 41, has maintained his innocence since his arrest. He intends to appeal his convictions on 10 felonies, handed down by jurors in October after two hours of deliberations. The jury found Ward guilty of child molesting, five counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, child seduction, dissemination of material harmful to a minor, neglect and escape.
Monroe County Deputy Prosecutor Rebecca Veidlinger, who handles sex-related cases, said the victim came forward when she was 16 because she feared the abuse would continue "the rest of her life" if she didn't tell someone.
Ward likely will serve half of the sentence, and receives credit for 100 days served in jail since his conviction. He had posted $11,000 bond and was released from jail after his 2010 arrest, but was taken into custody Oct. 6 when he was found guilty.
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