Man who sexually abused neighborhood girls gets 40-year term

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) - A 52-year-old man who sexually abused three girls in his neighborhood has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Jason Lawson, of Wildwood, was sentenced Tuesday. He was found guilty in June of three counts of statutory sodomy, along with one count each of statutory rape and child molestation.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports investigators alleged Lawson’s three victims were between the ages of 8 and 10 when they were abused at different times between 2007 and 2016.

Lawson denied the girls’ allegations at trial. Defense lawyer Mark Hammer said Lawson maintains his innocence and plans to appeal.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com