A man currently serving a state sentence for sexual assault will serve even more time in the state prison following his sentencing Tuesday in Carbon County court.

Gabriel P. Leshko, 45, currently an inmate at the state correctional institution at Dallas, Luzerne County, was sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika to serve nine to 60 months in a state prison on a charge of indecent assault. Matika ruled the term run consecutive to a prison term Leshko is currently serving on similar charges imposed in Columbia County. Matika noted Leshko’s minimum term runs until 2029. In a plea deal, a felony 1, charge of unlawful contact with a minor - sexual offenses, was dropped by the DA’s office.

At a prior guilty plea proceeding Matika rejected a plea deal to the charge which called for any sentence he impose run concurrent with the term Leshko was presently serving.

Leshko then told Matika he would continue with the plea knowing any sentence imposed by the court would be consecutive to what he is currently serving. Matika said he wouldn’t go along with the plea deal as presented because of Leshko’s extensive prior criminal record for sexual assault type charges.

Leshko and Mark Ronald Jacoby, 41, of Sugarloaf, were originally charged in the matter by Beaver Meadows police Chief Michael Morresi.

According to the affidavit of probable cause in the Leshko investigation, the timeline of the alleged assaults was the same. The victim stated Leshko was a frequent visitor at her residence and considered a trusted family friend. She stated he inappropriately touched her and exposed himself to her.

She said the incident when he exposed himself occurred when she and Leshko were going to a store in the borough and he said he had to urinate. He went out of sight, but then called to her. That’s when he exposed himself.

Leshko was interviewed at the state prison in August and admitted to the accusations, the affidavit states. He also stated he did not remember exactly how many times it occurred but said sometimes the assaults occurred in the TV room at the residence. He said he could not remember when he exposed himself to the girl.

Chief Public Defender Paul J. Levy said Leshko has taken full responsibility for what he did.

Leshko told the court, “What I did I can’t repair the damages. It was horrible.”

He said he hoped some day the victim would recover. He added, “I understand the harm I have done.”

A state sexual assessment board determined that Leshko was a sexually violent predator, which means he must register for life as a sexual offender under the provisions of Megan’s Law.

Matika told Leshko, “To say you are a sexual predator is saying it lightly.”

In addition to the prison term Leshko was ordered to get drug and alcohol, mental health evaluations and submit to a sexual offenders evaluation, have no contact with the victim or her family, supply a DNA sample, have no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 and pay court costs of over $1,000.