Petaluma molester sentenced to 19 years

A Petaluma man twice convicted of sexually abusing his teenage neighbor and annoying her friend has been sentenced to a long prison term.

John C. Sparrow, 57, received a 19-year, four-month sentence Friday after Judge Rene Chouteau denied his bid for a third trial.

Two juries found him guilty of molesting the neighbor over a five-year period, starting in 2005 when she was 14. They also found that he provided the girl and her friend with drugs.

Sparrow received a second trial on grounds that he received ineffective assistance from his first lawyer. Jurors in March delivered guilty verdicts on the same 12 counts.

His second lawyer argued for a third trial, saying jurors should have been allowed to see a video of Sparrow’s statement to police made the day of his arrest.

But the judge denied the request, clearing the way for sentencing late Friday before family members of the victim. Under state law, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he will be eligible for release.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.