Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Harrison Scott Blake, 36, of Safford, pleaded guilty to molestation of a child and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Harrison Scott Blake, 34, of Safford, pleaded guilty to child molestation charges in Graham County Superior Court on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The sentence was stipulated in Blake’s plea agreement, in which he agreed to an amended count of molestation of a child – a Class-2 felony and dangerous crime against children, and two amended counts of attempted molestation of a child – Class-3 felonies and dangerous crimes against children.
Graham County Attorney-elect L. Scott Bennett handled the prosecution for the state, while Barry Standifird served as Blake’s attorney. The case was presided over by Graham County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Peterson.
Blake was given credit for 57 days served but will have to serve flat time on his 15-year sentence. That means he will likely be eligible for release in the fall of 2035.
Upon his release from prison, Blake must register as a sex offender and will be on lifetime sexual offender probation, according to his plea and sentencing.
The case stems from a Safford Police investigation regarding Blake inappropriately touching a child under the age of 15. Blake was arrested in July on the offense and was sentenced just three months later without having to put the victim through a trial.
This article was corrected Wednesday at 4:36 p.m. to show that Blake will serve a flat term of 15 years. The court’s sentencing minutes mistakenly put that it was ordered he be eligible for one day off for every six served.
