A Blount County man has been given two life sentences and more in the sex abuse of a young girl that the district attorney called one of the worst cases she’s prosecuted.

Nicholas Riddle, 34, pleaded guilty in February to all 24 charges for which he was indicted after his 2021 arrest: first-degree rape, seven counts of sodomy, seven counts of sex abuse, seven counts of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor and two counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes.

The victim in the case was a 13-year-old girl who had to undergo surgery to repair injuries she sustained during the violent attacks.

She told authorities, court records show, that Riddle tied her up, put a belt around her neck and took her into a closet to sexually assault her.

Riddle entered a blind plea on February 2, when he was set for a jury trial. Riddle turned down the State’s plea offer of 100 years, said District Attorney Pamela Casey.

A blind plea occurs when the defendant admits guilt but leaves the sentence up to the discretion of the judge.

Casey said the evidence in the case proved that Riddle repeatedly provided methamphetamine to the victim and sexually abused, raped, and sodomized her over a period of three months. The abuse place between October 2020 and January 2021, records show.

Casey and Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland requested a total of 280 years Wednesday’s sentencing hearing.

Riddle spoke at the hearing, saying, “It is my fault. The victim did nothing to contribute to this. I am sorry.”

Blount County Circuit Judge Greg Reid told Riddle, “I don’t enjoy this part of my job. It is not something I take lightly. You have pled guilty. These are serious offenses. Life has choices. Choices have consequences.”

Reid sentenced Riddle to life for first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy, both of which are Class A felonies.

He received 30 years each on the seven counts of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, 10 years each on the six counts of second-degree sodomy, one year each on the six child sex abuse charges and five years each on the two counts of enticing a child.

The life sentences were ordered to be run consecutive to the 30-year and 10-year sentences which were also ordered to be run consecutive.

Casey thanked Blount County Child Advocacy Center Investigator Ed Hull and Gilliland for their work on the case, as well as DHR.

“These were horrific acts perpetuated on a child- acts that will forever change the victim,’’ Casey said. “In my 17 years of prosecuting, it is one of the worst set of facts I have seen, and the punishment handed down by the Court fits the crimes committed by the defendant.”