A Wheeling man pleaded no contest Monday to two counts of sexual abuse by a custodian in a case involving sexual abuse of a minor from 2019-22.

According to a release from Ohio County Prosecutor Shawn Turak, Larry Eugene Perry, 38, did not contest the two felony counts and further acknowledged the record of evidence supported a jury’s finding of guilt. Sentencing will occur at a later date.

Sexual abuse by a custodian carries a sentence of no fewer than 10 years and no more than 20 years in prison, according to the release.

“In addition to the prison sentence, upon release, Mr. Perry will register as a lifetime sex offender and be placed on a term of supervised release which will likely continue through the end of his natural life,” Turak said. “This will assure the ongoing protection of our community, particularly our children.”

According to the release, the victim of the crime for which Perry is now convicted was under the age of 12 when the sexual abuse occurred and is still a minor. The allegations were brought to the attention of law enforcement in 2023 after the minor reported the abuse to a trusted school counselor.

As a mandatory reporter, the counselor notified the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources which, in turn, notified law enforcement. The Wheeling Police Department’s detective division undertook a criminal investigation.

An Ohio County grand jury indicted Perry in January 2024 and Perry has remained jailed since his arrest in the late summer of 2023.