AUGUSTA — A Waterville man who twice strangled a 4-year-old girl until she lost consciousness and assaulted the child’s mother multiple times was sentenced Monday to serve 10 years in prison.

Kevin C. Simpson’s jury trial was scheduled to begin Monday morning, but before jurors entered the courtroom at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta, Simpson and his lawyer, George Hess, struck a plea deal with the state’s prosecutor, pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, one count of domestic violence assault on a child younger than 6 and one count of domestic violence assault.

An additional charge of domestic violence aggravated assault was dismissed.

On two occasions in 2021, Simpson put his hands around the neck of a 4-year-old girl, causing her to lose consciousness both times, according to Amanda Seekins, an assistant district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties. Simpson also hit the girl and assaulted the girl’s mother, with whom he was in a relationship at the time.

The woman told police Simpson, 38, assaulted her 4-year-old daughter after becoming upset with her because the girl would not eat her dinner.

Simpson allegedly held the girl down with his foot on her back and hit her at least seven times with a belt, according to an affidavit filed by Officer Luis Rodriguez of the Waterville Police Department. Rodriguez wrote in his affidavit that Simpson then reportedly placed his hands around the girl’s neck and lifted her off the ground. Police later saw marks on the girl’s neck and back, according to Rodriguez.

The child’s mother said in court Monday that Simpson’s actions caused her and her daughter much pain and suffering, from which they’re still trying to recover. She said they suffered traumatic abuse during the 2 1/2-year relationship the woman had with Simpson, and his attacks caused her to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and her daughter to continue to have nightmares.

“We didn’t deserve that. My daughter didn’t deserve that,” the woman said in court, as Simpson turned to look at and listen to her. “This will always be with me. I’m happy I woke up and got out of that situation before I lost my child, or my life. This is not for me. This is for my daughter.”

Simpson said he suffers from mental illness and has been getting treatment and medication in jail. He said he wants to be able to continue with the treatment while imprisoned and after he is released.

Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy said Simpson’s treatment should be able to continue in prison and after he gets out, when he is to be on probation for six years.

The girl’s mother said she prayed Simpson will heal over time and become a better person.

She also said, “Mental illness does not give you the right to put your hands on anyone.”

The woman thanked Murphy, Seekins and the police for taking her case seriously.

Hess said he and Simpson were prepared to go to trial. The two, however, watched video footage of Simpson and the girl that was potential evidence in the case, and decided to accept the plea deal.

“He saw the video. It’s something we just couldn’t get over,” Hess said of Simpson. “If the child’s video came in (to be seen by the jury at trial), that’d taint the jury towards the woman.”

Seekins said she spoke with the adult victim in the case, who indicated she agreed with the terms of the plea agreement.

Simpson was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with all but 10 years suspended, and six years of probation, with terms to include he have no contact with the victims.

Simpson has been jailed while awaiting trial, and has already served about three years behind bars.

The incidents took place between Oct. 1 and Dec. 2, 2021, when Simpson assaulted the woman with whom he lived and her daughter multiple times in Waterville, in some cases causing injury.

Simpson’s criminal record includes convictions in other states for assault and battery, including on a family member, according to his indictment.