A 58-year-old man will spend at least 20 years behind bars for the sexual abuse of a 7-year-old girl in Casper, according to the sentence handed down by Natrona County District Judge Scott Skavdahl on Friday.

"I can imagine no more heinous crimes than these crimes," Skavdahl said before pronouncing the sentence on Glenmore Edward Heath.

"He took from her what never can be replaced," he said.

Heath was arrested in May and charged with one count of first degree sexual intrusion on a victim under 13 from January through November 2008, according to court records.

According to Assistant District Attorney Joshua Stensaas, the victim's family opened their home to Heath even though it was not wealthy.

He watched cartoons with the girl, offered her snacks, and his cuddling turned to abuse, Stensaas said.

Heath then told her not to tell anyone about their contact, he said. "The girl requires assurances because she thinks she's responsible."

According to the presentence investigation, Stensaas said Heath committed a similar act against a six-year-old child in 1989, received a five-year sentence, and refused to participate in a sex offender rehabilitation program.

Stensaas recommended a 20- to 25-year sentence for him. "Mr. Heath is very dangerous."

As part of the prosecution's argument, the victim's mother spoke to the court.

"It happened in our home," the victim's mother said.

The family cannot move away, so it has remodeled the girl's room to cover some of the bad memories, the mother said.

"I'm afraid my daughter will have a hard time having normal relationships," she said.

The daughter already has difficulty with trusting people and dealing with some adults in authority, she said.

"It's very painful to look at my daughter and how she is forever changed because of what happened," the mother said. "She will never be innocent again."

In Heath's defense, public defender Rob Oldham told Skavdahl that people should be judged based on the totality of their lives and not for just their worst moments.

Oldham read a letter from Heath's wife, who wrote "Ed is a sensitive, kind and loving person."

No one involved in drafting the presentence investigation report contacted her, and the stress of the case has taken a toll on her health, she wrote.

During his first visit with Heath, Oldham said his client offered to be chemically castrated, which is not legal in Wyoming.

Heath is not in good health and has had two heart attacks, Oldham said. "Twenty years to Mr. Heath is a death sentence."

Skavdahl complimented Oldham and the public defender's office, but said he had to look at the effect of Heath's actions.

"The sentence I have to impose today will never replace what has been lost," Skavdahl said.

"Twenty to 25 years is appropriate," he said. "Society needs to be protected from him."

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at tom.morton@trib.com.