A Freeborn County District Court judge sentenced an Albert Lea man to 12 years in prison last week for sexually abusing a young girl.

Randy Lee Morrow, 46, was convicted of one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, involving a child under 13. This is his third conviction of sexual abuse against a child.

Morrow will serve his term at the St. Cloud prison, according to online court records. He will receive credit for 181 days already spent in jail.

According to court documents, Morrow was arrested in August after police received a report of inappropriate touching of a girl at the Albert Lea city pool.

Police later alleged Morrow molested the girl not only in Albert Lea but on trips to Florida and Tennessee as well.

He had also been using a false first name of Robert and had not registered his address for four years, which is a requirement as a Level 2 predatory offender.

Morrow pleaded guilty Feb. 8 to the first-degree charge as part of a plea agreement between his lawyer and the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office. It was classified as an Alford plea, in which a defendant maintains his innocence but admits the prosecutor has enough evidence to convict, usually for stiffer penalties.

Freeborn County District Court Judge Ross Leuning dismissed a second count, of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Court records state Morrow will be under correctional supervision for the remainder of his life, even after he is released from prison. He will be required to adhere to a series of conditions.

Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson stated in a previous interview it is likely prosecutors would petition Morrow to be civilly committed to a state hospital after he is released from prison.

Leuning dismissed a felony charge against Morrow’s wife, Veronica, who had been accused of harboring and concealing her husband from authorities.

Nelson said she is in the country illegally from Romania and will be deported.