Joshua Conte - Repeat Sex Offender - Just Didn't Get It

His attorney, Mark S. Solak, said Conte cooperated with police and that he "does have the ability to do the right thing under the right circumstances."

A 25-year-old New London man convicted twice of sexually assaulting young girls was sentenced Friday to an eight-year prison sentence, 20 years of strict probation and lifetime registry as a sex offender.

The victim in the first case was 12 years old and pregnant. Joshua Conte was sentenced to three years for that crime in 2003 and was still on special parole when he was charged in December 2008 with forcefully raping a 15-year-old girl he knew while she was baby-sitting in Norwich.

In both cases, Conte claimed the sex was consensual.

Both times, his case went before Judge Susan B. Handy in New London Superior Court.

"I don't know what part of this you don't get," Handy said at Conte's sentencing Friday. "It is illegal to have sex with a child under 16, and now you're 25."

In the latest case, Conte pleaded guilty to risk of injury to a minor.

Prosecutor Theresa Anne Ferryman said Conte does not appear to have made any progress since his first conviction, but his attorney, Mark S. Solak, said Conte cooperated with police and that he "does have the ability to do the right thing under the right circumstances."

Conte opted not to address the court. Before he headed back to the lockup, the judge reminded him that he will have eight years of prison "hanging over his head" if he violates the terms of his release. His full sentence is 20 years in prison, suspended after eight years served and 20 years probation.