A Colorado judge sentenced a man to more than a century in prison for sexually assaulting two 5-year-old girls in a basement nearly three years ago, authorities announced Monday in a press release.
In June, a jury convicted James Pinker, 37, of four counts of sexual assault against a minor with a history of abuse. On August 30, Weld County District Court Judge Vincente Vigil sentenced the defendant to 112 years to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
According to the 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the two girls arrived at the Medical Center of the Rockies on December 12, 2021, to report being sexually abused in a Weld County house while visiting a family member.
The girls told detectives they were in the basement playing “Monsters” when Pinker came downstairs and suggested they play the “kissing” game.
“When asked what the ‘kissing’ game was, the victims said the defendant would put his mouth on their ‘privates’ and made them take their clothes off,” according to the release.
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According to records, Pinker was detained in January 2022 and later released on bond. Following his conviction, he was returned to jail and is currently being transported to the Colorado Department of Corrections.
In addition, during the sentencing, a 17-year-old girl stated that Pinker sexually abused her as a youngster.
“The defendant’s actions were not only heinous, but they also shattered the innocence and lives of several young children,” Deputy District Attorney Timothy McCormack said in a statement.
“This sentence reflects the gravity of his acts and the justice due to his victims. Protecting children in our community is at the top of our priority list, and while no sentence will restore the devastation he caused, the court’s decision assures that he will never have the opportunity to hurt another kid again.”