AUGUSTA -- A 76-year-old Lewiston man convicted of sexually abusing a girl in Litchfield will spend the next three years in prison.

Eusebe J. Gallant was sentenced by Kennebec County Superior Court Justice Nancy Mills to nine years in prison with all but three years suspended, District Attorney Evert Fowle said this week. Gallant also was sentenced to eight years of probation and will have to register with the state as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

"It's the sentence we sought after trial and Justice Mills, in our judgment, imposed the correct sentence," Fowle said. "We're very pleased."

Gallant had no criminal record. His attorney had sought a three-year sentence with all but 194 days -- time already served -- suspended.

"He wanted (Gallant) to walk out of the court a free man, which the court did not accept," Fowle said.

A jury in May convicted Gallant of five counts of unlawful sexual contact with a young girl. The offenses occurred between 1997 and 2004.

Gallant was originally charged with nine counts. None of the charges include intercourse or sex acts, Fowle said.

"These are several touching offenses of a young girl," he said.

Craig Crosby--623-3811, ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com