Guilford man gets 10 years for sexually assaulting girl for years

NEW HAVEN — A Guilford man was sentenced to a decade in prison on Monday for sexually assaulting a young girl over a period of years, officials say. In a release, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said 61-year-old Kirby Hawkes was sentenced in the state Superior Court in New Haven to an effective sentence of 10 years in prison followed by 20 years of probation. They said Judge Maureen M. Keegan also ordered Hawkes to register with the state’s Sex Offender Registry for a period of 10 years after his release from the State of Connecticut Department of Correction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officials said the sentencing comes after Hawkes was found guilty of three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a minor. Hawkes waived his right to a jury trial and elected to be tried before Keegan, they said. Hawkes sexually abused a child entrusted to his care on multiple occasions starting when the child was 9 years old and continuing until she was 12, officials said. The case was investigated by the Guilford Police Department with assistance provided by the Yale Child Abuse Clinic, they said. New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle said commended the victim's strength in coming forward and remaining engaged in the judicial process to ensure accountability. Advertisement Article continues below this ad