PARIS – Justice Robert E. Crowley ordered a man convicted of sexual assault to spend five years in prison.

The sentence was handed down in Oxford County Superior Court on Thursday morning.

Rodney Heath, 32, of 970 Gore Road in Otisfield, who also goes by the name of Rodney Shackley, will also serve a three-year probationary period, pay a $410 fine, register as a sex offender, and be required to take sex offender counseling.

Crowley ordered an underlying sentence of eight years, but suspended three years. Crowley said Heath’s lack of a serious criminal history was “a significant mitigating factor” in reducing the sentence. Heath’s only prior conviction is a misdemeanor terrorizing charge from 1995, for which he was fined $75. He also said he believed Heath had a good chance of rehabilitation.

Heath was convicted by a jury on May 18 of Class B unlawful sexual conduct, Class C aggravated criminal trespass, and Class D domestic assault. The offenses all stem from one incident, which means the maximum sentence Heath could have received was 10 years.

A jury found Heath, 32, guilty after two days of testimony from the victim, police, medical officials at Stephens Memorial Hospital, and Heath himself. The jury also determined that the victim and Heath could be considered family or household members at the time of the incident, making the assault a case of domestic assault.

The charges stem from an incident that took place in Paris last July, involving Heath’s 27-year-old ex-girlfriend.

In his review prior to the sentencing, Crowley said the medical evidence in the case corroborated the victim’s testimony that she had been sexually assaulted.

Prior to the sentencing, the victim read a letter to the court accusing Heath of being “cunning and manipulative,” and urged Crowley to impose a harsh sentence. Assistant District Attorney Richard Beauchesne recommended a sentence of nine years, with all but five years suspended.

Kevin Joyce, Heath’s defense attorney, challenged the woman’s allegation that her children were endangered by Heath. He agreed that Heath should register as a sex offender, but asked that he serve a shorter jail term than the state’s recommendation.

Heath’s current girlfriend also submitted a letter to the court, though it was not read aloud and only submitted to Heath’s court file. She characterized Heath as a “kind, caring, compassionate, and thoughtful man” and requested a lenient sentence.

Crowley said Heath “has shown no remorse whatsoever” for his actions, and that was taken into account during the sentencing.

Health was also sentenced to three years on the criminal trespass charge and 364 days for the assault charge, both to run concurrently with the five-year sentence.