By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
tribune managing editor

KEYSER — A Piedmont man who said he “didn't realize the gravity of what happened at the time,” has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree sexual assault involving children.
Michael Lynn Rosier, 44, of 1 Frederick St., appeared before Judge Andrew Frye for sentencing Wednesday morning.
When Frye asked the defendant twice if he had anything to say on his behalf, Rosier finally spoke about the incidents involving three female victims who ranged in age from 10-12.
“I do feel remorse for what I've done and what I've put those families through,” he said.
Rosier went on to tell the court, however, that, at the time the assaults were occurring, he did not realize the devastating effects his actions wold have on the young girls.
“Somehow, I thought it was supposed to be fun for them too,” he said.
During the hearing, the mothers of each of the three victims testified as to how much emotional damage the assaults had done to both the girls and to their families.
“She's afraid,” one mother said. “She wants a light on at night again ... and she's not as affectionate as she was. He took away her innocence.”
One mother told the court that Rosier had warned her daughter not to tell anyone about his advances, or else he would hurt her or her family.
“He told her 'I will kill your parents,' or 'I will set your house on fire,'” she said.
Asking the judge to impose the maximum sentence on Rosier, the mother said, “I'm asking this court to help protect my child ... so my daughter can go on with her life.”
The third mother testified that her daughter “has had a lot of anger” and has been very distant.
“She keeps to herself a lot,” she said.
Asking, too, for the maximum sentence, the mother said Rosier “deserves it.”
“He took her innocence, and he destroyed our lives,” she said.
Rosier's mother, Margaret, and brother, John, testified on behalf of the defendant, noting that

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the professional firefighter  has been a good son, father, and community member over the years.
“He's been a good dad,” Margaret Rosier said. “He helped his son with his Scout badges ... and he dug out behind the house so (his son) could ride his four-wheeler back there.
“He's been a good son and a good dad ... He's a great person and he has a great heart. Everyone knows that,” she said.
She also testified as to the devastating effect the charges have had on her and her family.
“It's really blown me away,” she said. “I was not prepared for any of this.”
John Rosier also testified that his brother is “a great dad.”
“That's the most important thing in his life is his two kids,” he said.
Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Nelson asked for the maximum sentence, saying the young victims did not deserve the trauma they have been forced to experience.
He also  noted that two more victims have come forth with allegations of sexual abuse since Rosier entered an Alford plea in the fall.
Frye remanded Rosier to the Department of Corrections after sentencing him to not less than 5 nor more than 25 years on each of the two sexual abuse charges and not less than 10 nor more than 25 on the single assault charge.
The sentences are to run consecutively.
(Editor's Note: The names of the mothers who testified have been withheld to protect the identity of the victims.)