A Logan man who pleaded guilty in 1st District Court to sexually abusing multiple children over the last 20 years was sentenced Tuesday to a minimum of 10 years in the Utah State Prison.

Rand Meyerhoffer, 46, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony offense with a potential punishment of 15 years to life in prison. The state code includes a provision that allows the judge to consider a lesser minimum sentence of either six years or 10 years, if it is in the interest of justice to do so.

Judge Brian Cannell said he had difficulty with the recommendation for Meyerhoffer to serve a minimum of six years in prison, but he acknowledged the man had owned up to his behavior,

“I just can’t move from 15 years to six years, so I am going to impose 10 years to life,” Cannell said.

According to court records, a young child reported Meyerhoffer touched her inappropriately, leading to an investigation that revealed three other victims, including another child, a female in her teens and one who is now an adult.

Logan investigators say one of the victims reportedly said Meyerhoffer would purchase alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamine for her before pressuring her into exposing herself to him. He was also accused of taking intimate photos of one victim without her knowledge and playing strip poker.

Meyerhoffer said he was often under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the time in question and while it had some impact on his ability to remember everything that took place, they were not the cause for his behavior.

“I am ashamed of my deplorable actions,” he said.

He addressed his victims in court, saying he would forever regret the harm his actions caused them.

“May God bless you and heal you — and have mercy on my soul,” he said.