73-year-old man pleads guilty to sexually abusing two children
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IDAHO FALLS — A 73-year-old Idaho Falls man has admitted to sexually abusing two children for years.
Vernal G. Adams pleaded guilty to one felony count of sex abuse of a child under 16 years of age as part of a plea agreement. A lewd conduct charge was dismissed as part of the deal.
Prosecutors will recommend that Adams serve a seven-year fixed prison sentence along with a period of indeterminate time, according to court documents.
Police learned about Adams from Child Protective Services after one of the victims, who is now a teenager, told a counselor she had been sexually abused by Adams.
The victim’s family noticed she was acting unusual and when they checked her cell phone, court documents state they found text messages she had sent to friends describing the abuse.
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Investigators contacted Adams and he initially said he had no recollection of the abuse. After further questioning, Adams said he touched one of the girl’s breasts under her clothing when she was approximately 13. He also told police he touched the first victim “when she was little bitty (around 5-years-old),” according to court documents.
Adams babysat the victims in his Idaho Falls, Ammon and Rexburg homes over the years. The abuse happened multiple times and one of the girls told police Adams would say “that it’s our secret game that we play” while he molested her.
Adams will be sentenced by District Judge Bruce L. Pickett March 13 at the Bonneville County Courthouse.