A Minnesota man was sentenced Friday in Douglas County District Court to 23 years in prison for sexually abusing a young girl.

Richard C. Clarke, 38, Inver Grove, Minn., pleaded guilty in October to aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties with a child, one day into his trial.

Clarke fled the jurisdiction following a preliminary hearing in October 2005. Authorities later found him in Minnesota.

Clarke was originally charged in 2000, but the case was dismissed when the victim was hidden out of state from prosecutors. The child continued to be sexually abused during that time.

Judge Paula Martin handed down the aggravated sentence on each count, ordering Clarke to spend a total of 276 months behind bars.