Applause broke out in a Butler County courtroom after the judge sentenced a Ross Twp. man to 20 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl last summer.

Pasquale S. Accorinti, 48, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and kidnapping on Oct. 10. Judge Michael Sage imposed the sentence on Wednesday. Many supporters cried and then clapped after Sage announced his decision.

The victim was in court and she had Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Heile read her statement.

“You are nothing but a sick creep who deserves to rot in prison,” the girl wrote. “You can forget what you did, but I can’t. I get to remember it for the rest of my life. I can’t even explain how much you took from me, but I’ll stand strong. You can’t break my spirit… I’m not forgiving you for you, I’m forgiving you for my sake.”

Accorinti was arrested June 13 after the girl went to his house to mow his lawn and he raped her. He was originally charged with two felony counts of rape, one felony count of kidnapping and two felony counts of gross sexual imposition.

Accorinti’s attorney Don Leroy asked Sage to consider that this was a first-time offense and his client lives with and cares for his elderly parents. Accorinti apologized to the victim and and to his family.

Sage sentenced Accorinti to two 10-year-to-life sentences on the rape counts and ran them consecutively. He deemed the kidnapping charge an allied offense and therefore didn’t impose a sentence. Heile said if he had imposed a sentence the case might have come back on appeal. Sage said he didn’t want that to happen.

Heile praised the young girl for her courage.

“The victim in this case was incredibly brave throughout all of it,” she said.

Heile said since his arrest, others have come forward and those claims are under investigation.