Eugene Sukeforth, 83, of Wiscasset, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty in November to one count of Gross Sexual Assault, a Class A crime, involving a minor.

The crimes took place when the victim was 7 to 14 years old, beginning when Sukeforth was 73. In its sentencing recommendation to the court, the state said Sukeforth groomed the victim using his position of trust, and recommended the cap of 15 years instead of the “floor” of eight years behind bars. Sukeforth admitted his guilt early in the legal process and had support from both family members and his church. Their letters were included in the court documents. Court records did not show any sentencing recommendation from the defense, except to show comparable sentences for others convicted of similar crimes.

Initially, members of his church, the Wiscasset-based Bible Baptist Church, had written letters attesting to Sukeforth’s good character and pleaded for leniency; however, in a letter dated Feb. 4, the pastor of the church, Rev. Rob Green, wrote a letter to the court stating he had believed when he first spoke to Sukeforth that the event he pled guilty to was a one-time event and that he was remorseful. Through information made public by the courts, and subsequent conversations with Sukeforth and his wife, he realized the actions went on for a long period and that Sukeforth blamed his victim; Green and the church withdrew their support for Sukeforth days before his sentencing hearing.

Sukeforth will also have to register as a convicted sex offender for the rest of his life.