A Middlesboro man was sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual abuse- 1st degree involving two female juveniles. Bell County Circuit Court Judge Keith Nagle issued the sentence on Monday.

In June of 2022 Donald “Chuck” Treece was taken into custody by Middlesboro Police Lt./Detective Barry Cowan. Cowan was investigating the sexual abuse allegations and Treece confessed to the crimes.

Treece, 66, was served with 20 more counts of sexual abuse- 1st degree on February 9, 2023 after more allegations were lodged by the same female victims. WRIL reports that the mother of the children agreed to the dismissal of those additional charges so as not to subject her children to testifying in court about the incidents.

Nagle sentenced Treece to six years on each count of sexual abuse he pled guilty to. The sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 12 years in prison with five years of supervised release afterward. He will also register as a sex offender.