A Big Island man was sentenced to 45 years in prison Tuesday for molesting six children.
Gregory Dean Burton, 36, entered Alford pleas in late July on 13 counts of forcible sodomy against children under the age of 13 and one count of aggravated sexual battery.
Alford pleas allow a defendant to maintain his innocence while admitting prosecutors have enough evidence to gain a conviction.
Burton testified Tuesday that he was being sarcastic because he was angry when he admitted to investigators that he had abused some of the children.
“I told them I was being a smart aleck at the time,” he said.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance asked why he would joke about sodomy with six children, but Burton did not respond.
Burton said he and his wife were having marital trouble and he accused her of conspiring with her friends to make up the evidence used to convict him.
“I wish I was a good enough lawyer to explain what has happened in this case,” defense attorney Joseph Sanzone said.
Sanzone said Burton’s statements to police made him nearly impossible to defend at trial, but told the judge the fact remained that one group of people close to his wife made the claims while Burton’s son and his son’s friend say he never has made any sexual advances toward them.
Nance said his attempt to blame his wife for the crimes was a mockery of the court and that his denial of responsibility showed Burton could not be reformed.
Gregory Dean Burton
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