WELLSBURG — A Wellsburg man faces up to 40 years in prison for two counts of sexual abuse by a custodian.

On Monday, 1st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Jason Cuomo ordered Curtis Wayne Shorts, 42, of Wellsburg to serve 10 to 20 years for each count, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

Thomas Kroger, Shorts’ court-appointed attorney, had sought concurrent sentences for his client, noting he currently has five years remaining in an unrelated sentence ordered for him in Ohio.

Kroger said Shorts had entered into a plea agreement in the case to save the victim and others the burden of a trial.

But Cuomo said Shorts on Monday denied committing the crime, a reversal of his position during the Jan. 27 plea hearing that he interpreted as indicating a lack of remorse on Shorts’ behalf.

Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden told the court the victim, now an adult, said she still experiences emotional trauma from the sexual acts Shorts had committed against her while she was in his care.

Cuomo noted Shorts will be required to register as a sex offender for life.