DUNCOMBE — A rural Duncombe man will never see freedom again after a Webster County judge sentenced him to 75 years in prison on Monday morning.

That sentence — actually 10 sentences to be served consecutively — will be added to the 82 years he’s already serving in a separate case.

In December, Paul Eran Peterson, 41, pleaded guilty to five counts each of third-degree sexual abuse, Class C felonies, and incest, Class D felonies. Prior to accepting a plea agreement, Peterson was facing up to 167 years in prison and 19 charges. Just a few months before that, he was convicted in a bench trial of a slew of sexual abuse and incest charges in an unrelated case.

A sentencing hearing for the second case was held Monday morning at the Webster County Courthouse.

Peterson’s victim was given the opportunity to give a victim impact statement prior to Tuesday’s sentencing. The Messenger does not identify victims of sexual assault.

“I just hope that you’re able to deal with the damage you’ve made and find something that I probably won’t for a while, and that’s peace,” the victim said.

Peterson was also allowed to address the court during the hearing.

“I just want to tell my family that I’m very sorry for all the events that have happened,” he said. “If I could go back and change it all, I would.”

According to the plea agreement, the state would recommend that the sentence for each incest charge be served concurrently to its corresponding sex abuse charge, and that the five sex abuse sentences be served consecutively, for a total of 50 years.

However, when District Court Judge Angela Doyle handed down the sentence, she chose to set each sentence consecutive with one another, for a maximum sentence of 75 years. Each Class C felony carries a 10-year sentence, and each Class D felony carries a five-year sentence.

“It goes without saying that the damage caused to [your victim] is immeasurable, irreversible,” Doyle said.

Doyle also ordered that the sentences be served consecutively with the sentences he’s already serving, for a total incarceration of up to 157 years.

Peterson will also have to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for the rest of his life.

The remaining nine counts Peterson was facing in this case have been dismissed.

In August, Peterson filed an appeal on his previous conviction. As of Monday evening, that appeal remains active in the appellate court system.