From The Times Tribune -
A Lily man charged with multiple sexual-related charges involving two children has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
19 year old Brett Eugene Hand appeared in Laurel Circuit Court for formal sentencing Thursday April 12, 2019 concerning two counts of first-degree sexual abuse – victim under 12 years of age, which he entered a guilty plea to in February in exchange for an agreement with prosecutors.
During the sentencing, Judge Michael Caperton ruled to follow the recommendations set forth by prosecutors regarding Hand’s punishment.
As part of the agreement, prosecutors recommended that Hand serve six years for one count and five years for the other — both short of the 10-year maximum for a Class C felony. Those sentences were recommended to be serve consecutively — or one after the other — for a total of 11 years.
In addition, Hand’s remaining charges of three counts of first-degree sodomy – victim under 12 years of age were dismissed at sentencing, per the agreement.
Hand will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
Hand was arrested in January 2018 following an investigation by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, which was initiated following allegations from two children that Hand had reportedly exposed them to sexual contact. He was indicted in February 2018 by a Laurel County grand jury, formally charging him on the original charges.
According to the indictment, Hand engaged in deviate sexual intercourse with the two children on several occasions. The ages of the children at the time of the alleged incidents were four and seven.
Hand currently remains jailed in the Laurel County Correctional Center, where he will remain until being turned over to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.