NEILLSVILLE — A Neillsville man has been sentenced to four consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of sexually assaulting four victims.

Joseph C. Pierce Sr., 70, was convicted by a Clark County jury on Aug. 12 of three counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13, child solicitation-sexual contact and three counts of exposing a person. the child to harmful materials.

Clark County Judge Daniel Diehn ordered the four life sentences to run consecutively, along with an additional 16 years for related offenses, and he will be on lifetime supervision. He must also pay a fine of $862.

According to criminal complaints, the sexual assaults began in 2017.

“Clark County District Attorney Melissa Inlow, who prosecuted the case with Assistant Attorney General James Krause, is pleased with the sentence and notes that the defendant’s despicable behavior and history of similar behavior make it clear that protection of the public could only be achieved through solitary confinement permanent”, it is stated in a press release of the prosecutor’s office. “DA Inlow also stated that without the courage and bravery of the four young victims who came forward and testified at trial, Joseph C. Pierce Sr. would not have been held accountable for his heinous crimes.”

Three of the victims read impact statements in court before sentencing.

Pierce was arrested and charged in September 2021 and is being held in jail on $25,000 cash bail; he was given credit for time served.