A Whitefield man was sentenced to serve nine months in jail after pleading guilty to two class C felony counts of sexual abuse of a 14- or 15-year-old girl, according to court documents.
Christopher Sidelinger, 29, pleaded guilty to the two charges of sexual abuse of a minor in April, and four similar charges and six class A gross sexual assault counts against him were dismissed.
The assaults and abuse listed in the 12 charges allegedly took place in late October and early November 2012 against a single victim, according to Sidelinger’s indictment.
Following Sidelinger’s plea in April, his attorney, Darrick Banda, said Sidelinger made the deal after considering both potential problems with the state’s case against him and the risks he faced if he was convicted of the charges.
On May 11, Sidelinger was sentenced to five years in prison on each of the two charges, but one sentence was fully suspended and all but nine months of the other was suspended, according to court documents.
Sidelinger was also sentenced to two years of probation, which includes conditions for him to complete sex offender counseling, and not to possess or use illegal drugs or alcohol.
Neither Banda nor Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wright, the prosecutor, responded to requests for comment by press time.