Newton man going to prison in sex cases

Robert Burrton, 20, 412 W. 13th St., was sentenced to 136 months in prison on two sex crimes cases Wednesday in Harvey County District Court.

Burrton also was order to serve a 190-month sentence on a past conviction for aggravated criminal sodomy.

Burrton was given an adult sentence as a juvenile, but the sentence was suspended on the condition he complete juvenile detention on charges of criminal sodomy, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated battery.

Burrton was released six months early from juvenile detention.

Within months, he was rearrested.

He was convicted earlier this year on charges of indecent liberties with a child and aggravated sexual battery against two victims.

In one of the cases, Burrton allegedly groped a 13-year-old girl. In the second case, Burrton allegedly groped an 18-year-old woman.

Judge Ted Ice chose to depart from a plea agreement with the defendant and sentenced Burrton to two concurrent 136-month terms, the aggravated sentence, instead of the 130 months stipulated in the plea agreement.

Ice said he was “an inch away” from sentencing Burrton as a persistent sexual offender.

“The sentence of the court is somewhat reluctant,” Ice said, “considering there are numerous sex offenses.”

Burrton’s attorney argued Burrton should not be sentenced as a persistent offender because his prior convictions occurred when he was a juvenile.

The sentences in the two current cases will run consecutively with the 190 months Burrton will have to serve for his juvenile offense.

Burrton will get credit against the 190-month sentence for the time he served in juvenile detention.

Burrton also will have to register as a sex offender.

Burrton said nothing at the sentencing, and neither of the victims were present.