FARMINGTON — A Franklin County justice sentenced a Connecticut man Monday to serve three years of a 10-year sentence and 12 years of probation for having sexual contact with a child he was baby-sitting in 2008.

David Rhoades, 46, of Taftville, Conn., pleaded guilty to a felony charge of unlawful sexual contact with a child under 12 years old. Rhoades had lived in Franklin County but moved away in 2008.

Officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department arrested him in September 2013.

Rhoades’ attorney, Walter Hanstein, told the court that Rhoades had turned himself in to Connecticut police in 2008 when he learned there was a warrant for his arrest related to the case.

Rhoades waited 90 days in jail and nobody from Maine went down to get him, Hanstein said. A judge and a prosecutor in Connecticut released Rhoades and dismissed the charge in that state.

Prior to his arrest last year, Rhoades had found a job and got married, Hanstein said. Rhoades did not know the charge still existed in Maine, Hanstein previously said at a court hearing.

If the case went to trial, Franklin County Detective David St. Laurent would have testified that the child’s father told police that his child had been touched inappropriately by the baby sitter.

Detectives Stephen and Kenneth Charles interviewed Rhoades, who initially denied touching the child but later admitted to it, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said.

The child would have also been able to testify about what happened, he said.

Hanstein said his client does not want to put the child through a trial.

“I just apologize. I am sorry. I wish it never happened,” Rhoades said, adding that alcohol and medication were involved.

Rhoades had a sex conviction in 2004 and received a five-year sentence with all but one year suspended, four years probation and 22 hours of community service, Robbins said.

Justice Nancy Mills also prohibited Rhoades from having any contact with the victim or their family. She also ordered him to have no contact with anyone under age 16 unless the parent of the child supervised the visit.

Rhoades will have to undergo sex offender counseling and register for the rest of his life as a sex offender, Mills said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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