It's not in his power to take away their pain, the Lancaster County judge told the two girls sitting in the back of his courtroom.
But as for Michael Lee Wentzel, the man who sexually assaulted them, Judge Jeffery Wright sentenced him to 10 to 20 years in prison.
"You did nothing wrong," Wright told the two girls on Tuesday.
"This man is a predator," the judge said, and they demonstrated "enormous courage" by coming forward and contacting authorities.
Wentzel, 30, of Mount Joy, sexually assaulted the girls for more than two years, prosecutors said.
Defense attorney James Gratton said during the period of time the assaults were taking place, Wentzel was heavily using controlled substances.
But, Gratton said, Wentzel has accepted responsibility for his actions and waived all his court hearings so the victims would not have to testify.
Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield said the victims and their families were in agreement with the negotiated sentence.
Wentzel pleaded guilty to charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault plus three counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and indecent assault.
He was evaluated by a psychologist who determined that he is a sexually violent predator and will have to abide by Megan's Law conditions when he is released from prison.
Also in court on Tuesday, another man was sentenced for sexually assaulting children.
Stephen McDowell, 56, of Nottingham, was placed on 5 years probation for corruption of minors and three counts of indecent assault.
McDowell pleaded guilty to the charges in June stemming from the sexual assault of a young girl visiting his home, Mansfield said.
Defense attorney Scott Oberholtzer told Judge Louis J. Farina that McDowell is his family's sole source of support and takes care of his wife who suffers from medical problems.
"He is concerned and upset about what happened," Oberholtzer told the judge.
"It never should have happened," McDowell said.
McDowell, who has no prior criminal record, was ordered to register his whereabouts with police for 10 years as a Megan's Law violator.
Farina also fined McDowell $100 and ordered him to pay $1,605 restitution.
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