New London - A 41-year-old New London man was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to register as a sexual offender Friday for inappropriately groping two young girls.

Harold L. "Monty" Waites was found guilty in March of two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor. The same jury delivered a not guilty verdict on the two more serious charges of first-degree sexual assault.

Prosecution had alleged that after a night of drinking at a friend's house in New London on March 26, 2011, Waites went into the bedroom where two girls, ages 9 and 10, were sleeping, and touched them inappropriately.

Assistant State's Attorney Lawrence J. Tytla prosecuted.

Judge Arthur C. Hadden sentenced Waites to 20 years suspended after 15 years in prison and 20 years probation with restrictions that bar him from any contact with minors.