A Lansford man was sentenced on Friday to a state correctional institution on sexual assault charges.

James Salvatore Hargett, 53, was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve a total of 30 months to nine years on charges of corruption of minors and indecent assault.

Hargett previously pleaded to the charges.

In exchange for the plea felony counts of aggravated indecent assault and another corruption charge were dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

According to Lansford police on Dec. 23, 2018, the victim reported while she was sleeping at a relative’s residence along West Kline Avenue, Hargett entered the bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

This occurred in April 2018.

A second incident occurred, according to the victim, in October 2018, when she was in the same bedroom playing a video game when Hargett entered the room. He came up behind her while she was seated in a chair and inappropriately touched her. In both incidents, the victim told police she was in fear.

The victim was 15 at the time of the incidents.

Now 17, the victim told the court that the incidents “took a toll on my life.” She also said, “I almost killed myself because of it.” Adding, “This will be struck in my head for the rest of my life.”

Two relatives of the victims also told how it has affected her. Both also said this was not the first time that Hargett was involved in such a crime.

Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton asked the court for “the longest sentence available” and make the terms run consecutively.

Hargett’s told the court he realizes that the victim has trust issues. He added, “I’m sorry for what she is going through.”

Nanovic also noted this was not the first time Hargett was involved in such conduct.

He previously served state prison time in another state for similar crimes.

On the corruption count Nanovic imposed a state sentence of 27 months to seven years and on the indecent assault charge, 12 to 24 months, with the terms running consecutively.

Hargett was also ordered to get drug and alcohol, mental health and sexual offenders evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment; supply a DNA sample; follow all registration rules of Megan’s Law; have no contact with the victim or her family; have no unsupervised contact with minor children; and pay court costs of over $1,000.

Hargett has been in prison for almost three years on the charges. He was given credit for 1,006 days already spent on the charges. He will now be transferred to a state facility.

Because of his previous conviction of sexual assault charges in another state, he has already been ordered to register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.