LISBON — A judge sentenced a Salem man accused of sexually assaulting a child over a two-year period to at least 12 years in prison Friday, strongly chastising him for the trauma he inflicted.

“There are not words that can describe the harm you’ve caused,” Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton said.

Brandon Seddon, 33, last known address Barclay Avenue, appeared for sentencing accompanied by his defense attorneys Bruce Williams and Christine Falconer. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to sexual battery, a second-degree felony, and two counts of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. A first-degree felony rape charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

According to the indictment, Seddon engaged in sexual conduct or contact with a child who was 7 years old when the assaults began during the time frame from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2021.

County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone recommended consecutive sentences of an indefinite eight to 12 years for the sexual battery and one year each for the gross sexual imposition charges for a total of at least 10 years. Additional time of up to one half of the minimum sentence for the indefinite term could be imposed by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.

Bickerton followed the recommendation of eight to 12 years for the sexual battery, but went higher for the other charges, issuing a sentence of two years each for the gross sexual imposition counts, bringing the total minimum to 12 years that must be served. She was rechecking to determine the maximum, which she thought was an additional four years to bring the possible maximum to 16 years once the consecutive terms were added in.

Yacovone said it was in 2023 that the mother contacted police after the child revealed what had happened. He also said the grandmother noticed something was off with her granddaughter. Yacovone said the child was able to share experiential details about what happened.

What he found disturbing was the fact that when the defendant was interviewed he denied any touching occurred and then even tried to blame the victim. Yacovone asked for consecutive sentences, saying a single term isn’t enough.

“He took that innocence away from the child,” Yacovone said, adding that he hopes she can get closure and heal.

The girl’s grandmother spoke briefly to the court, saying the defendant exploited her granddaughter’s innocence and shattered her childhood. She wished she had recognized the signs.

She described her granddaughter as withdrawn and anxious, telling the court the defendant caused “irreparable harm to my family.”

She hoped no other child had to go through what her granddaughter endured from the defendant.

“I’m proud of her strength, her resilience and her courage,” she said.

Williams said his client was very remorseful and didn’t want the child to be retraumatized.

“I’m very sorry, your honor,” was all Seddon had to say.

Bickerton called the case very troubling after she acknowledged reading the defendant’s interview and the victim impact statement.

She talked about the defendant robbing the girl of an innocence that she can never get back.

“It’s horrifying that you would intentionally try to blame the victim. She’s innocent in all of this,” Bickerton said.

Besides receiving the prison term, Seddon was designated a Tier III sex offender with a requirement to register his address with the sheriff’s office of the county where he resides once he’s out of prison. He’ll have to verify the address every 90 days for the rest of his life. He also received credit for seven days already served in jail.

The girl is now 13 years old and her grandmother said after the sentencing hearing that “this gives her closure.”

She indicated that the family wished he could have gotten more time in prison, her granddaughter wanted him to get life, but they understood and accepted the plea agreement. They were happy that the judge went a little higher than what the prosecution recommended.

She talked again about how her granddaughter is doing now, saying she’s showing strength.