By Jean Matheson
Correspondent
A 68-year-old Delavan man who admitted sexually molesting two young girls will serve 30 years in prison – likely a life term for him.
David L. Burdick, who earlier had pleaded guilty to two felony counts of repeated sexual assaults of the same child, was sentenced April 2 in Walworth County Circuit Court.
Authorities who questioned the two girls said the abuse took place over several years beginning when one of the girls was 4 years old and the other, 8.
Questioned by a county social worker, the younger girl told about Burdick touching her sexually and said she was “keeping a secret and didn’t want to get in trouble.” The older girl said the touching “happened a lot” and made her “nervous,” according to a criminal complaint.
At the request of Burdick’s defense attorney, a mental competency test was held for Burdick in July, and he was found to be incompetent. A second competency test in September, however, found Burdick competent to stand trial.
A trial date was cancelled when Burdick appeared before Judge John Race on Jan. 16 and pleaded guilty to the two felony charges.
The judge also ordered that Burdick serve seven years on extended supervision at the end of his prison sentence.
