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April 12, 2012

Former school janitor sentenced to 12 to 15 years for molesting relatives

Julie Manganis Staff writer

MARBLEHEAD — A former school janitor from Marblehead was sentenced this morning in Salem Superior Court to a total of 12 to 15 years in state prison, one day after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two girls a decade ago.

Richard Jones, 43, was related to the victims, who disclosed in 2009 that Jones had been sexually abusing them over the course of nearly a year back in 2001. The girls were 9 and 12 years old at the time.

The allegations came to light after the younger of the girls learned that Jones had transferred from Marblehead High School to the Coffin Elementary School and grew concerned that he might find victims there.

Judge Timothy Feeley went along with the prosecution’s recommendation for back-to-back sentences of 10 to 12 years and two to three years, saying he shared the concerns of Assistant District Attorney Kim Faitella.

Faitella called the crimes a violation of a position of trust.

Both girls testified that the incidents were life-altering and have led to difficulties in school and their personal lives.

Defense attorney Jessica Thrall, who asked for a shorter prison term of three to five years, read a series of letters from friends and family of Jones, who urged leniency and “mercy.”

Jones will also spend five years on probation after his prison term.

For more on this story, see tomorrow’s Salem News.

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