Attorney George Cosenza, left, speaks with Trent Stanley at the conclusion of a hearing Monday in which Wood County Circuit Court Judge Jason Wharton sentenced Stanley to three to 15 years in prison on four charges of third-degree sexual assault related to Stanley’s relationship with a juvenile female he coached in soccer. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — The attorney for former Belpre High School soccer coach Trent Stanley asked a judge to spare his client additional jail time Monday, saying the 23-year-old man’s sexual relationship with a teenage girl he’d coached was “a horrible, horrible lapse in judgment” for which Stanley takes responsibility.

“To her, I am very sorry for everything I have put her through,” Stanley said. “I should have known not to cross the line with the victim. … I fell in love with someone who I shouldn’t have.”

But Wood County Circuit Court Judge Jason Wharton sentenced Stanley to three to 15 years in prison on four counts of third-degree sexual assault, saying Stanley violated the trust put in a youth coach more than once.

“This defendant engaged in a sexual relationship with at least one of his athletes,” Wharton said. “Other underage girls reported that the defendant sent nude pictures to them.”

Wharton said there have also been allegations of sexual contact with at least one other girl.

A shackled Trent Stanley wipes his eyes after Wood County Circuit Court Judge Jason Wharton pronounced his sentence of three to 15 years in prison Monday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“This was not one mistake. This was not one lapse in judgment,” said Assistant Wood County Prosecutor Emily Martin. “This is a predator who preyed on young girls, who took a coaching position so that he could be close to young girls to start inappropriate and sexual relationships, which is exactly what he did with the victim in this case.”

Stanley was charged in May with seven counts of third-degree sexual assault and eight counts of sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust, all involving the same girl under the age of 16.

He was suspended as coach of Belpre’s co-ed soccer team, and his contract was not renewed.

Stanley has also been investigated by the Belpre Police Department regarding the same girl as in the Wood County case and another individual. That case was referred to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office, which requested a special prosecutor due to a potential conflict of interest.

A call to the prosecutor assigned, David Kelley of Adams County, was not returned Monday.

Former Belpre High School soccer coach Trent Stanley looks toward his family during his sentencing hearing Monday before Wood County Circuit Court Judge Jason Wharton. Stanley pleaded guilty in October to four counts of third-degree sexual assault and was sentenced Monday to three to 15 years in prison. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

In October, Stanley pleaded guilty to the four counts of third-degree sexual assault, with the other 11 charges to be dismissed. Wharton said Monday that the dismissal of those counts, particularly the sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust, already provided a “substantial benefit” to Stanley.

To grant the defense’s motion for alternative sentencing “would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the offense,” Wharton said.

The judge sentenced Stanley to one to five years in prison on each count. The first three sentences will run consecutively, with the fourth running concurrent to the third, and credit for 49 days already served. Stanley will serve 18 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Before the sentence was pronounced, Stanley read a prepared statement to the judge, his hands trembling. He tried to hold back tears as he spoke.

“I never wanted to do this, to be here, to put my family through (this) hardship of emotions, finance and disbelief as to what their kid has done,” he said. “I was 22 at the time, but mentally I felt as if I were still a kid. I was immature, but have since been able to see what I have done to the victim, her family and my own.

“I had so many people who looked up to me, who trusted me, and I let a lot of them, if not all of them, down. And that weighs on me every day,” Stanley said.

Stanley spoke of his time at the North Central Regional Jail, saying being away from his family has been difficult and he fears for his safety due to physical and mental health issues. He said he’s also lost touch with a longtime friend who he was not allowed to speak with as the other man was a witness in the case.

Stanley said he wanted to make amends, pay any fines or restitution and return to school and work.

“I would be a productive citizen who would contribute as much as he could,” he said.

Martin said Stanley was simply saying what he thought the judge wanted to hear and noted that his own actions were the reason for the struggles he now faces.

“His friends were on that witness list because he was bragging about his relationship with the victim,” she said.