AUGUSTA — A Waterville man will spend nine months and a day behind bars for sexually assaulting two girls under age 12.

Kevin Easler, 28, had pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual contact that occurred in the period of June to November 2015 in Waterville and was sentenced recently at the Capital Judicial Center.

Once he serves the jail time — which is to begin Wednesday next week — he is to be placed on probation for six years while the remainder of the 10-year term is suspended.

The investigation began after the girls told their mother about what had happened, according to documents at the Capital Judicial Center.

A sentencing memo filed by defense attorney Andrew Wright says Easler cooperated with police. The memo also indicates that the defense and the prosecution had agreed to a three-year cap on the period of initial incarceration.

Wright argued for a fully suspended sentence, saying that Easler had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Asperger’s syndrome, now classified as an autism spectrum disorder.

Neighbors wrote letters of support for Easler, saying he made a mistake. One of Easler’s uncles wrote a letter as well, saying Easler was mentally, socially and emotionally disabled.

The state asked for Easler to serve the agreed-upon cap.

“The state sought three years as an active period of imprisonment because we felt it was similar to other similar offenses, and because we felt a (Department of Corrections) sentence of over two years would give the defendant time to participate in the treatment and counseling options available in custody,” Deputy District Attorney Paul Cavanaugh said in an email sent Thursday. “The defendant presented a volume of mental health information and the court struck what it hopes is the appropriate balance between punishment and treatment.”

Betty Adams — 621-5631

[email protected]

Twitter: @betadams