CT man receives eight-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two children

A Meriden man was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday for sexually assaulting two children, officials said.

Judge Thomas O’Keefe sentenced 77-year-old Robert Bendel to 20 years in prison, suspended after eight years served, followed by 10 years of probation after he pled guilty to two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor, according to a release from Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Nichol Peco.

In addition, the judge said Bendel will be required to register as a sex offender, maintain no contact with minors and adhere to two standing criminal protective orders when he is released, Peco said.

According to officials, one of the victims was under 10 years old and the second was under 16 when the assaults occurred.

The assaults were investigated by the Meriden Police Department‘s Detective Bureau, according to Peco.

“Judge O’Keefe emphasized in his sentencing that the victims were innocent and did nothing wrong,” Peco said in a statement. “He said that this affected not only the victims but their families as well.

“Judge O’Keefe said anyone who hears of this sentence should think twice before engaging in this conduct,” Peco added. “And that if it weren’t for the defendant’s advanced age and medical conditions, his sentence would have been double.”