AUGUSTA — An Augusta man who pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and unlawful sexual touching for incidents involving the assaults of two children will spend at least 15 months in prison.

Lester E. Mason, 53, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison, but with all but 15 months of that sentence suspended.

The incidents occurred in Readfield between 2016 and 2017, while the victims were between the ages of 9 and 11.

Mason’s two victims, who are sisters, wrote letters that were read in court at Mason’s sentencing by Assistant District Attorney Michael Madigan. The victims said they feared Mason and what he did to them hurt them deeply and they were working to move forward and rebuild their lives and hoped they never have to see him again.

“Just know the time you spend in prison is going to be the first time I feel relief since I was 8 years old,” one victim said, noting she sees a psychiatrist weekly and struggles with extreme anxiety and occasional depression. “Hopefully you never touch another child again.”

Mason pleaded guilty last December to one count of unlawful sexual contact and three counts of unlawful sexual touching, in a plea agreement with state prosecutors.

The most serious charge, the Class B unlawful sexual contact charge, had a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

His five-year sentence, with all but 15 months suspended, means he’s likely to spend at least 15 months in prison. But if he violates the terms of his probation, Mason could be sentenced to the full five years in prison.

He will be on probation for six years, with conditions including he have no contact with the victims, have no unsupervised contact with girls younger than 16, and undergo sex offender counseling. He will be required to register on the state’s sex offender registry for the rest of his life.

When asked by Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy if he had anything to say, Mason replied, “No, your honor.”

His attorney, Stephen Smith, said Mason was quick to take responsibility for his actions and is remorseful.

“He accepted responsibility for his actions,” Smith said of Mason. “He feels badly and is hurt by what he’s heard today. Because he does care for these children. He knows what he did was wrong and just wants to move on.”

Murphy said with Mason taking responsibility for his crimes, officials tried to move the case through the courts to a resolution as fast as they could. But progress was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which “I’m sure it felt like a lifetime” for the victims, Murphy said.

“I hope you understand we regret the delays,” Murphy said to the two victims. “And we have certainly heard how this has affected you.”

She said at least the victims were spared having to testify in court about what happened to them.

Mason was arrested by the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant, in December 2020.