Jul 5, 2017 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – A Nemacolin man who had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in 2016 was sentenced Wednesday to 27 months to 6 years in state prison.

Martin Folan Jr., 21, of 45 Bliss Ave., pleaded guilty in December to nine of the charges against him, while 17 other charges, including five counts of rape of a child younger than 13 years old, were withdrawn.

According to court documents, Cumberland Township police arrested Folan after he allegedly took the girl in the early hours of March 26, 2016 from her Nemacolin home. The girl earlier had been staying with Folan at his home.

Folan pleaded guilty to unlawful contact with a minor, five counts of statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault of a child younger than 13 years old. He pleaded no contest to the charge of interference with the custody of a child.

The victim’s mother read a letter from her daughter to the court.

“He has me scared for my life,” the victim wrote in the letter. “I feel he has taken away my innocence as a child.”

The victim also wrote that she has since moved away from Nemacolin and changed school districts.

“I had to move because I don’t feel safe in Nemacolin because of his family and friends,” she said.

During his sentencing, Folan also read a statement in which he told the court that he has “given my life to God.”

“I have put God in the center of my life,” he said. “I thank all of my family for sticking by me in all of this.”

Greene County Judge Lou Dayich gave Folan credit for time served since his arrest in March 2016. Folan also will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.