Nicholas Bolton

A York City man who maintains his innocence was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in state prison for allegedly raping a 7-year-old girl.

When Nicholas Adam Bolton, 27, pleaded no contest in July to one count of child rape, he told presiding Common Pleas Judge John S. Kennedy he didn't rape the girl but was unwilling to risk 24 years in prison if he was convicted.

Defendants who plead no contest are not admitting guilt. Rather, they are saying they will not contest the charges against them. Otherwise, a no-contest plea has the same effect as a guilty plea.

On Wednesday, Kennedy sentenced Bolton to 10 to 20 years in prison, plus five years of probation.

York City Police said Bolton raped the girl, the daughter of an acquaintance, on May 27, 2011, at a home on Kings Mill Road.

Senior deputy prosecutor Seth Bortner said a blanket the girl had been lying on at the time was sent to a state police crime lab, where DNA testing determined seminal fluid found on it came from Bolton.

A witness also saw a portion of the alleged rape, the prosecutor said.

Bortner said the girl's family supported the plea agreement, and he was satisfied with it because it guarantees a lengthy prison sentence for Bolton.

"The victim had an extremely difficult time testifying at the preliminary hearing, and the effect on her (were she to testify at trial) had to be considered," he said.

Chief public defender Bruce Blocher, who represented Bolton, could not immediately be reached for comment.

-- Staff writer Liz Evans Scolforo can also be reached at levans@yorkdispatch.com.