ST. JAMES — A former New Ulm and St. James man was sentenced to 76 months in the St. Cloud Correctional Facility June 15 after entering an Alford plea, a guilty plea in criminal court, in a case involving molesting a boy he knew in 2008 or 2009.

Under the Alford plea, Timothy J. Turner, 36, did not admit to the criminal act and asserts innocence, but admits sufficient evidence exists to convict him.

Turner was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct-force or coercion. One first-degree and two second-degree criminal sexual conduct charges were dismissed. Turner was credited with nearly nine months spent in jail. He is required to register as a predatory offender and give DNA samples when directed.

According to court documents, the victim, about eight years old at the time, told St. James Police last July that Turner molested him while he lived with him in St. James.

The boy said he never told anyone what happened until he was 16 or 17 when he told his mother. The mother confirmed her son told her of the sexual conduct.