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Eagle Point man sentenced for abuse Larry Allen Fernandes will serve more than 10 years. The judge refused a defense request that the terms run concurrently By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune An Eagle Point man who sexually abused a child in his care for half of that girl's life will spend more than 10 years in prison. Larry Allen Fernandes, 49, was sentenced by Jackson County Circuit Judge Ross Davis on Monday. "Your behavior has obviously been exceedingly self-centered," Davis said. Fernandes was arrested by deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department in August. According to Deputy District Attorney Beth Heckert, the abuse was reported in July. Heckert said the abuse involved a young girl who lived at Fernandes' home and the crimes took place over a 10-year period. The victim is now 18 years old. Fernandes was charged with second-degree rape, four counts of first-degree sex abuse, two counts of third-degree sex abuse and two counts of unlawful sexual penetration. In November, Fernandes pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree rape and first-degree sex abuse. The charge of sex abuse did not fall under Measure 11 guidelines. The previous charges were dropped in lieu of a sentencing recommendation. The victim and her family did not attend the sentencing Monday. However, Fernandes asked Davis if he could read out loud from a letter written for the family. "It's all my fault, not yours," he said for the victim's benefit. "I've done some very horrible things but I'm not a horrible person. I'm ashamed." Fernandes and his attorney, Robert Able, asked that the sentence be served concurrently. Heckert disagreed, and asked Davis to sentence Fernandes to spend both terms behind bars. "This case is particularly disgusting and aggravating to me," she said, adding that Fernandes has been accused of sex abuse more than once. Last year, the district attorney's office investigated complaints against Fernandes. He was charged with third-degree sexual abuse (a misdemeanor) but the case was later dropped. In addition, Heckert said the victim's family has raised allegations of sexual abuse involving another young girl. Heckert said she urged the family to report the incident to the police. Davis agreed with Heckert's recommendation and ordered Fernandes to serve 10 years and eight months, the full amount of both terms. Fernandes was also sentenced to 20 years of post-prison supervision and ordered to pay for victim counseling and submit to DNA and HIV testing. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.