(COLDWATER) – Sentence has been handed down to a Quincy man.

Branch County Circuit Court officials say 41 year old Shawn Benton of Quincy was sentenced Monday to serve between 2.5 to 15 years, after he plead no contest in August to an amended felony charge of third degree criminal sexual conduct. In addition, Benton must also register with the State of Michigan as a sex offender.

By agreeing to the plea, the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed six charges that included four counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. Benton was also charged with second degree criminal sexual conduct, and accosting children for immoral purposes.

Michigan State Police conducted the investigation on the crimes that allegedly happened between 2015 and 2023 with two females who were born in 2008 and 2009. The girls were seven or eight years old when the alleged assaults started.

When he was interviewed by Troopers, Benton denied the allegations.