An Allegheny County judge sentenced a convicted serial child molester to 40 to 80 years in prison yesterday, all but assuring he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Frank Pruitt, 58, of Hazelwood, was convicted in July of repeatedly raping three girls who were between 7 and 9 at the time of the offenses.

Mr. Pruitt established a pattern of assaulting young girls who were neighbors or children of his friends, said Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel. He had been charged with similar crimes before, including a 2007 guilty plea to indecent assault charges.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Hoffman said that another victim of Mr. Pruitt's came forward after reading a news story about his trial, but Mr. Hoffman won't pursue more charges because the statute of limitations has passed.

A mother of one of the victims who testified in July spoke at the sentencing hearing, telling how she cared for Mr. Pruitt, who said he had emphysema, when others cast him aside.

"We trusted you," the woman said. "And you destroyed me and my baby's life."