A 34-year-old Hutchinson area man convicted on child sex charges after he entered pleas in the case was sentenced to 72-months in prison Friday afternoon by Judge Joe McCarville.
Michael Gimple entered “guilty” pleas to electronic solicitation and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child for trying to entice a 15-year-old girl into a sexual act through texting. He also exchanged nude photos with the girl, and also engaged in video chats where they would watch each other performing sexual acts. The alleged crimes occurring between August 16 and October 5, of last year.
Judge McCarville sentenced him to the 72-months on the first charge and 32-months each on the other two, but ran all three sentences concurrent to each other for the controlling sentence of 72-months, which is the amount of time the two sides agreed on as part of a plea agreement.
The victims mother spoke prior to sentencing and told the court that she believes that Gimple has no idea what he has done to her family and her daughter. She says she fears that someone may hurt her again. She is apparently the one who discovered what was going on between her daughter and Gimple.
Gimple will be on lifetime post release supervision when he’s released from prison and will also have to register as a sex offender.