A Pueblo West man was sentenced to 10 years to life after pleading guilty to sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a child spanning 12 years, according to a news release Tuesday from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

William Plymell, 77, was arrested in July 2022 after a monthslong investigation by the sheriff’s office. Detectives discovered that Plymell’s actions started when the child was 12, and continued until she was 24. A search warrant uncovered child sexual abuse material involving the victim.

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Plymell was released on bond shortly after the arrest but was taken back into custody after entering a guilty plea in July. He remained in the Pueblo County jail up while awaiting his sentencing. 

The indeterminate sentence imposes a minimum of 10 years but could extend to life. The Department of Corrections will decide when Plymell may be eligible for parole.

“Protecting the children in our community is a top priority of our agency and while no sentence can undo the harm that was caused to this child, this sentence ensures that he will never have the chance to harm another child again,” said David Lucero, Pueblo County Sheriff, in the release.