A man accused of fondling a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to child abuse. 56--year-old Sichiro Seinar appeared before Superior Court Judge Vernon Perez, who handed down a three-year sentence, with all but one year suspended. 

Seinar, who has already spent nearly ten months behind bars, will serve the remainder of his time at the Department of Corrections before being released on three years of parole.

Court documents show the charges stemmed from a November 2024 incident, when the victim—who was asleep—reported waking up to Seinar fondling her. A relative witnessed the abuse and confronted him.

Originally charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct, Seinar pleaded guilty to child abuse as a third-degree felony. As part of the plea deal, he must stay away from the victim, undergo counseling, and avoid alcohol, drugs, and weapons.

Seinar, appearing frail and in a wheelchair with a bandage on his neck, apologized in court and chose to proceed with sentencing despite telling the judge he was feeling weak.