Putnam man draws 20 years for sexual assault

DANIELSON, Conn. (AP) - A Putnam man convicted of sexually assaulting the young daughter of his girlfriend has been sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by 10 years of special parole.

The Norwich Bulletin reports William Artiaco was sentenced in Danielson Superior Court Monday. A jury had found him guilty of sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

Testimony said the sexual assaults began when the girl was 6 and ended when she was in the fourth grade. Putnam police arrested the 59-year-old Artiaco in 2009.

Prosecutors say the victim, now 18, never had the support of her mother, who dated Artiaco and testified on his behalf.

Windham County prosecutor Bonnie Bentley called it "incomprehensible" that the victim's mother sided with a convicted rapist instead of her daughter.

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Information from: Norwich Bulletin