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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The repeated rape of a young girl will put a city man behind bars for up to a decade.</p><p>Lamar Hasan Lawrence, 41, was sentenced Monday in Luzerne County Court to spend five to 10 years in state prison on a single felony count of sexual assault.</p><p>Judge David W. Lupas credited Lawrence for 334 day served.</p><p>Lawrence in April pleaded no contest to the charge. A plea of no contest is not an admission of guilt, but can be treated as such for sentencing purposes.</p><p>According to police, the man performed a variety of lewd sex acts on the girl between August 2013 and June 2014 when she was between the ages of 8 and 9. The assaults at times caused the girl to bleed, police say.</p><p>Defense attorney Maureen Collins said Lawrence chose not to contest allegations because he was &#8220;adamant&#8221; about not putting the girl through the process of testifying in court.</p><p>Through Collins, Lawrence asked Lupas to impose a prison term in the lower end of the standard sentencing range, urging the judge to consider his plea as well as the details of his childhood.</p><p>The defendant offered no statement on his own behalf when asked.</p><p>The sentence exceeds the standard range of 42 to 60 months.</p><p>Prior to sentencing the judge heard testimony from state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board member Paula Brust, who concluded through an investigation that Lawrence should be classified as a sexually violent predator.</p><p>According to Brust, Lawrence&#8217;s actions toward the young girl suggest a level of sadism in his behavior and his history of criminal convictions indicate he has not learned from previous experiences.</p><p>Brust said when accounting for the age difference between Lawrence and his victim, as well as the repetitive nature of the assaults and a handful of other factors, the defendant fits the criteria for pedophilic disorder.</p><p>She described the disorder as being characterized by strong, recurring desires for sexual contact with individuals younger than 13, especially desires that are acted upon. Brust said the disorder is a lifetime condition.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no cure for pedophilic disorder, only management, we hope,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Brust said Laurence&#8217;s behaviors likely are motivated by his disorder. Lupas deemed the man sexually violent.</p><p>Near the hearing&#8217;s conclusion, Assistant District Attorney Nancy Violi formally advised Lawrence of his responsibilities as both a sex offender and sexually violent predator, including requirements to notify law enforcement of his changes in address, employment and of his usual haunts in the case of homelessness.</p><p>He must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.</p><p>Lawrence shook his head as he signed court papers acknowledging his understanding.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not right,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That&#8217;s not right.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Lamar-Lawrence-8-24-15.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lawrence </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Lamar-Lawrence-8-24-15.jpg</photo0><caption0>Lawrence </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By James O&#8217;Malley</p><p>jomalley@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach James O&#8217;Malley at 570-991-6390 or on Twitter @TL_omalley.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre man gets 5 to 10 years for repeated child rape