LISBON - A Calcutta man pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of gross sexual imposition in a case involving a girl, who was 4 or 5 years old in 2009 when the crime occurred.
Paul W. Power, 63, agreed over the weekend to a plea deal in the case, which was scheduled for jury selection Tuesday.
Power, of 48978 Calcutta-Smith Ferry Road, East Liverpool, was originally charged with one count gross sexual imposition and one count of rape, a first-degree felony with an age specification because the child was less than 10 years old at the time of the crime. Had he been convicted of the rape charge, Power could have been sentenced to life in prison with a chance for parole in 15 years.
The third-degree felonies Power agreed to plead to have a potential maximum sentence of five years each. However, Assistant County Prosecutor Tim McNicol said he is asking for six years total. Power will also be required to register as a tier II sexual offender.
By reaching a plea agreement, the girl, who is now 7 years old, will not have to testify.
"The child will not testify, which was the major consideration," McNicol said of the plea deal.
In May, Judge C. Ashley Pike had ruled the child was competent to testify in the trial.
Court documents allege Power purposely engaged in sexual conduct with the child who was 4 or 5 years old at the time of one of the offenses in either April or May 2009. The other charge alleged he purposely had sexual contact with the child on Nov. 5, 2009. The child was 5 years old at the time of the second incident.
Sentencing has been set for March 9.
