ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. - A convicted child molester asked for a second chance Friday, saying he was a victim of child abuse and was on drugs and alcohol when he committed what a St. Clair County prosecutor called "vile and wicked acts."
"The only thing I can do is beg and plead with the court ... to have mercy on me and give me a second chance at life," said Nicholas Belkiewicz, 27.
"All I want is to be able to get the help I need and deserve so I can prove to everyone I'm not this horrible monster."
Judge Daniel Kelly was not moved. He sentenced Belkiewicz on 13 charges that could keep the Port Huron Township man behind bars for the rest of his life.
According to court records, Belkiewicz was sentenced to a total term based on consecutive sentencing of a minimum of 63 years and four months to a maximum of 140 years.
Belkiewicz had pleaded guilty on June 4 to charges that included child sexually abusive commercial activity; first degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13; and second degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13.
The charges stemmed from several incidents that included sexual assaults on a 4-month-old baby girl. Belkiewicz had recorded that assault and others on a cell phone video.
Assistant Prosecutor Paul Soderberg said Belkiewicz also had downloaded "thousands" of child pornography images; had rigged a camera to record a minor girl taking a shower; and had recorded several sex assaults on sleeping 12-year-old girls who were at a sleepover in the home where he was staying.
Soderbergh said the images and recordings were found on Belkiewicz's phone.
"But for that accident, he would still be out on the street," Soderberg said. "The only thing he's remorseful about is he got caught."
Both Belkiewicz and his lawyer, Fred Lepley, said Belkiewicz had been abused as a child and also was treated for depression and bi-polar disorder.
Belkiewicz said he was raped by other children while he was in foster care from when he was 9 to when he was 15.
"I've never been more ashamed and sorry for anything that I've ever done," he said.
"I'm not this type of person. I don't go around preying on other people's children."
Several parents of Belkiewicz's victims spoke before Kelly imposed sentence. They are not being identified to protect the identities of the children.
"I don't believe the crap that is coming out of his mouth," said one parent while choking back tears. "The nature of this crime is absolutely disgusting.
"He is a sick individual. I pray all these victims get justice."
Others spoke of the betrayal of their trust and the damage done to their children.
Kelly said he wanted to commend the families who attended the sentencing and spoke.
"I can't begin to imagine the torment you've been put through," he said.
He addressed Belkiewicz directly.
"I can't imagine for the life of me why someone with a history of sexual abuse as you would want to expose any other child (to that)," he said. "... The pleasure you got out of such an act, it doesn't make sense to anybody.
"This is just one of the saddest cases I've ever seen."
Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477.
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