Man convicted of assault and exploiting child gets life sentence

A man convicted of assaulting and exploiting a child has been sentenced to life without parole.

Twenty-nine-year-old John McElhenney pleaded guilty to two of the eight counts he was indicted on.

McElhenney was indicted in February on three counts of sexual battery, two counts of touching a child for lustful purpose, and three counts of child exploitation involving a 4-year-old child.

As part of a deal in court, he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery and one count of child exploitation.

Judge Randi Mueller sentenced McElhenney to life without the possibility of parole plus 40 years.

Family members of the victim were in the courtroom to hear his plea.

Mueller told McElhenney he stole the victim’s innocence. “The victim was not a stranger. This is somebody he was supposed to love and protect, to take care of, make sure nobody else harmed. And instead of that Mr. McElhenney, you became the person to harm this little child and attempt to steal her innocence and her childhood from her.”

McElhenney’s attorney asked the judge to limit media in the courtroom — which was withdrawn just before the hearing.