SOUTH POINT — A South Point man will spend the next 10 years in prison following his guilty plea to four counts of gross sexual imposition.

On Tuesday, Greg Knipp, 46, pleaded guilty in front of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper.

“He had been charged with contact with two minors,” Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson said. “One is 11 and one is 9. The children reported it.”

According to a report by Lawrence County Sheriff Detective Aaron Bollinger, in February one of the children made comments about sexual relations that concerned her family.

“The two girls alleged that (Knipp) walks around the residence in the nude in their presence,” the report stated. “The girls stated (Knipp) watches pornographic movies with them in the room.”

They also said the man has touched them and hugged them while he is in the nude.

Knipp came to the sheriff’s office in March where he admitted to Bollinger of being in the nude when he is with the girls, and watching pornographic movies with one of the children. He also told Bollinger that he had one of the girls touch his penis, according to the report.

Knipp admitted he gave one of the girls a sexual device, the report stated.

He told Bollinger the reason for his actions was that he was lonely and depressed.

“The plea of guilty did save the young girls from having to testify,” Anderson said. “He was facing a maximum of 20 years, plus the 25 years registered as a sex offender. Part of the reason for the plea was to save them from a trial. They have already been damaged enough.”

Anderson commended Bollinger for his work on the case.

“Those are hard cases to prosecute,” Anderson said. “When you have a child victim, it is not reported for a period of time.”

Knipp, was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Gleichauf, who recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison and registration as a Tier II Sex Offender for 25 years. Cooper accepted the state’s recommendation.