NEW ULM — A 43-year-old Springfield man was sentenced to 230 months in prison for two criminal sex cases in Brown County District Court Tuesday.

Diedrich A. Middleton was sentenced to 70 months in the St. Cloud Correctional Facility for a second-degree criminal sexual conduct-significant relationship, victim under age 16 from Feb. 1, 2008 to March 1, 2018. One first-degree and three second-degree criminal sexual conduct charges were dismissed. He was credited for 62 days served and must pay restitution, open for 30 days.

Middleton was sentenced to 160 months in prison for a first-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction. Three other first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one second-degree criminal sexual charge were dismissed, as part of a plea agreement.

He was credited with 62 days served, conditional release after 10 years confinement. Restitution will remain open for 30 days.

Middleton was booked into the Brown County Jail on April 26, 2018 after Springfield Police got a phone call from the Morgan Police Chief who said a witness and juvenile victim reported a sexual assault in Springfield.

Police coordinated with the Redwood Falls Child Advocacy Center to do a forensic interview with the victim who said she was three years old when Middleton first sexually touched her.

Middleton said he never did anything the victim alleged like touching her or forcing her to do anything sexual.

“He (Middleton) blames everybody but himself. The facts portray a deep perversion,” said Assistant Brown County Attorney Dan Kalk. “No sentence is long enough. The sooner the survivors have closure, the sooner they can get on with their lives.”

“Nothing anyone can say can take away the damage that’s been done,” said Brown County Public Defender Greg Handevidt. “There were compelled (victim impact) statements read in court. It’s going to be a life long recovery.”

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.