Jefferson City babysitter sentenced to 25 years for child molestation

A Jefferson City man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday for child molestation and statutory sodomy.

A jury convicted 71-year-old Arthur Earl back in December for the charges.

Earl was charged after a mother came home to find he had abused her child while babysitting.

According to court documents, Earl admitted to becoming aroused as the 6-year-old child was jumping on his lap.

The documents said Earl also admitted to inappropriately touching the child.

He apparently then told investigators the 6-year-old is the one who actually initiated sexual actions.

He even told investigators the child told him to go to the bedroom.

Earl denies abusing a 20-month-old in the house.

ABC 17 checked into Earl’s past and it appears he has no previous criminal history.