Portales man to serve 21 years in child sex case

A Portales man last week pleaded guilty to criminal sexual penetration and criminal sexual contact of a minor.

Lawrence Corne, 53, was sentenced to 33 years in the state’s Department of Corrections, according to a news release from District Attorney Quentin Ray.

According to the news release:

An investigation by the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Corne had been molesting a family member over a period of five months. Investigator Jacob Bonner spoke to Corne who confessed to the crimes.

As part of his plea agreement, Judge Donna Mowrer suspended the final 12 years of Corne’s sentence in favor of parole and requirement to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

“Although the defendant deserved even more time for this action, the decision on the plea was made to protect the young victim from having to endure what would have been a difficult trial,” prosecutor Brian Stover said in the news release.

Corne was represented by criminal defense attorney Raymond G. Conley.