A Palmerton man will be spending at least the next four and a half years in a state correctional institution after he was sentenced Thursday on sexual assault charges involving an adult female and two young girls as victims.

Lucio Alexander Alvarado Torres, 34, was sentenced to a total term of 54 to 120 months by Judge Joseph J. Matika. He previously pleaded in three pending cases to one count each of sexual assault, a felony two; and two counts of indecent assault, one a misdemeanor one and the second a misdemeanor two.In the sexual assault case he was charged for an incident on July 9, 2016, at his residence at 430 Delaware Ave. A friend of his live-in girlfriend was visiting the home and decided to stay overnight. While asleep, Torres entered the room and attempted to assault her but she pushed him away. He did this a total of four times. The last time he dragged her from where she sleeping and eventually sexually assaulted her. In that case the district attorney's office dropped two counts of rape, three counts of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault and one count each of simple assault and harassment.The first indecent assault count occurred on March 12, 2016, at his residence with the victim being a 13-year-old girl. The circumstances were similar to the July incident in which the victim was asleep when Torres entered the room she was in and made inappropriate contact with her. In the plea agreement the DA dropped counts of corruption of a minor, indecent assault, criminal attempt - indecent assault of a unconscious person and criminal attempt - without consent.The third incident occurred on Sept. 19, 2016, at his residence and involved an 8-year-old girl as the victim. Again the circumstances were similar as the other two, The victim was staying over at the residence when the assault occurred. In that case the DA dropped charges of corruption of a minor, indecent assault without consent, indecent assault person under 16, two counts of criminal attempt - indecent assault person unconscious and without consent and simple assault.On Thursday, Alvarado Torres apologized to his victims. "I hope someday they will forgive me in their heart."His attorney, Steven R. Mills, said alcohol played a role in the incidents, which he said was not an excuse.The adult female victim told the court, "What happened to me was horrible." She said it deeply affected her and her daughter, who was one of the young victims in the case. She said her daughter still suffers emotional problems due to the incident and continues counseling.She said, "He ruined families' lives."Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo, who prosecuted the cases, said the victims agreed to the plea deal made in the case. He also said Alvarado Torres had failed to knowledge he guilt in his interview by the adult probation office in the preparation of a presentence investigative report.Matika voiced the same concern about the defendant's lack of accepting responsibility for what he did and showing no remorse before Thursday.Matika said in the case with the adult victim the defendant denied it happened, in the second case he denied the allegations and in the third he claimed the sexual act was consensual.Matika said, "That shows no remorse for your actions. You have scarred two children and an adult for life."Matika ordered Alvarado Torres to get both mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations, supply a DNA sample, have no contact with any of the victims, render 100 hours of community service when paroled and pay court costs of about $1,000.Because the charges fall under Megan's Law, Alvarado Torres must register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office has filed a detainer against Alvarado Torres with the intent to deport him back to El Salvador. When he is paroled, he will be turned over to immigration officials.