AUGUSTA – A Randolph man who befriended families to gain access to their children has been handed a six-year prison term in a child sex case.

William French, 54, had pleaded no contest last spring in Kennebec County Superior Court to one count of gross sexual assault and three counts of unlawful sexual contact.

Justice John Atwood sentenced French on Friday to 15 years with all but six years suspended and 10 years of probation.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Rucha told Atwood that French had a history of gaining people’s trust and then abusing it.

The ages of the girls who were French’s victims ranged from 6 to 10 at the time of the offenses, Rucha said.

Defense counsel Stephen Bourget expressed remorse on French’s behalf, and French told the judge he had nothing to add.