Man Sentenced to 236 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Nine-Year-Old Girl on Multiple Occassions

A man in Northern Colorado has been sentenced to 236 years to life in prison after being convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl.

Joshua Andrews, 41, was convicted in June of 12 counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, as part of a pattern of sexual abuse.

The case came to light in 2024 January. The Weld County Sheriff's Office said the girl's mother noticed a change in her daughter's behaviour. She had become reluctant to attend school on Thursdays.

According to investigators, Thursdays included lessons about private parts. The child's behaviour raised concerns and prompted questions about what was happening.

The girl subsequently indicated that Andrews had sexually assaulted her, according to authorities. The case was then investigated by the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

A Weld County judge handed Andrews his lengthy sentence on Thursday, 27 August. The punishment means he is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Prosecutor Vows To Protect Children

The case has prompted a strong response from local prosecutors, who said the sentence sends a clear warning to adults who target children.

'Our message is simple: People who prey on Weld County's children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' Chief Deputy District Attorney Arynn Clark said.

'We will continue to protect children in our community and will use every tool we have available to seek justice. There is no place in our community for adults who abuse children.'

The conviction involved 12 separate counts. Prosecutors described the offences as part of a pattern of sexual abuse and said Andrews was in a position of trust in relation to the child.

Cases involving children can often take months or years to reach court. Investigations may involve interviews with victims and witnesses, alongside the gathering of other evidence.

In this case, the initial report was made in 2024 January. Andrews was subsequently convicted in June 2026 before receiving the 236-year-to-life sentence in August.

Memphis Case Ends With 60-Year Sentence

The Colorado case comes as another child sexual assault case in the US has resulted in a lengthy prison sentence.

Antonio Maben, 45, of Memphis, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and sexual assault.

The DeSoto County District Attorney's Office said the case began in May 2025. A mother discovered Maben sexually assaulting her daughter.

When the woman confronted him, prosecutors said Maben held both the mother and her daughter at gunpoint. Law enforcement later intervened.

Maben was arrested in May 2025 and was ultimately convicted of the offences. He will reportedly not be eligible for release until he is about 92 years old.

'No prison sentence can undo what happened, but this sentence delivers accountability and an unmistakable warning: if you commit heinous crimes like these in Mississippi, we will hunt down the evidence, prosecute you, and fight to put you in prison for as long as the law allows,' Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera of the DeSoto County District Attorney's Office said.

Both cases highlight the severe penalties that can follow convictions for serious offences against children. The sentences also underline prosecutors' efforts to pursue lengthy prison terms in cases involving sexual violence and vulnerable victims.