A 53-year-old Finley man told the families of two molested girls and his parents on Wednesday he wished "none of this had taken place," but continued to maintain his innocence in the face of a 10-year sentence.

Vance Lynn Baker was ordered to serve the lengthy prison term, just 10 months short of the maximum sentence allowed for sexually assaulting two girls over a number of years.

A Benton County jury convicted Baker on May 20 of second-degree child molestation and two counts of first-degree child molestation. They acquitted him of one count of first-degree rape of a child.

According to court documents, Baker molested one girl at least 13 times over a two-year period. Another girl was repeatedly molested starting when she was young.

The girls did not report the abuse until later because they were scared and embarrassed to talk about it and felt pressure from some people to keep it hidden, documents said.

The case was first filed in November 2008 with only one victim, and later amended to include the second.

Baker told a community corrections officer for a presentencing report that he "has been fighting this case for over two and a half years because he did not commit the crimes." He also said he "hopes that the truth will come out," the report said.

Baker plans to appeal the guilty verdicts and has 30 days to file notice.

He was unsuccessful in getting Superior Court Judge Vic VanderSchoor on Wednesday to delay sentencing while his new lawyer looks into filing a motion for a new trial.

Bill McCool of Walla Walla was hired by Baker's parents after the conviction. He said a delay was needed because he only got a majority of the trial transcript Tuesday and needs time to read through it.

McCool told the judge it's better to deal with this at the trial court level than wait for the time it takes to move through the appeals process. He said it was in the interest of justice to resolve any potential appeals issues now.

But Deputy Prosecutor Anita Petra argued that the girls and their families were in court and "ready to have closure." She begged the judge to go forward with sentencing, adding that "this is not the time for them to look through an entire transcript and find issues."

VanderSchoor pointed out that since November 2008, the case "had some 20-plus trial settings," Baker is now on his fourth attorney and the verdict was rendered more than three months ago.

"I frankly don't think there's a reason for a new trial just based on my recollection," VanderSchoor added.

Petra recommended a 10-year, 10-month sentence "for justice to be served and the community to be protected." The first-degree child molestations didn't qualify for an indeterminate sentence -- meaning it would have been up to a state board when to release Baker after a mandatory minimum term -- because the crimes were committed before 2001.

The girls opted not to address the court Wednesday. After the verdicts, they collapsed in the prosecutor's office in tears, said Petra, who noted that it's not considered "a glorious win."

The victims and their families are not named under a Herald policy not to identify people who report being sexually assaulted.

One mother said the case has taken a toll on her family and almost torn them apart, "but through counseling we manage to stay together and get through this."

She said all she has ever wanted is for Baker to get help, which she hopes he can now do in prison. She also hopes her daughter can go forward and move on with her life now that the criminal case is over.

The mother of the second girl said Baker took the girl's spirit the day he started molesting her and killed who she was and would have become.

"I see her struggle often. She says she is fine and for me to not worry about her, but I know that is not true," the woman said. "She tells me she has forgiven you. I guess that is a step in the healing process."

McCool said Baker doesn't have a long criminal history and asked for a prison term on the low end of the range, starting at eight years and two months.

Baker is ordered to have no contact with one of the girls for 10 years and the older girl for life. He also must be evaluated for substance abuse and follow any recommended treatment.