Oxford Junction man sentenced to 40 years for sex exploitation

A 31-year-old Oxford Junction man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison Tuesday for enticing two teenage girls into texting him sexually explicit photos of themselves over the course of 11 months.

Nicholas Appleby pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography in December 2013. Appleby sent sexually explicit photos of himself to a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old girl and then also persuaded them to send him explicit photos of themselves from July 2011 to July 2012.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade gave him the maximum prison time because he coerced and manipulated two victims who had mental issues themselves. One of the victims had a mental disability and the other girl was a 'cutter” who suffered from depression and low self-esteem.

Reade said Appleby, a 'skilled manipulator,” knew of the mental issues and manipulated one of the girls by saying he would hurt himself if she didn't send the photos. He also persuaded her to have sex with him.

Mike Lahammer, Appleby's attorney, argued Appleby had his own mental health issues and suffered from affects of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Appleby's mother, Mary Appleby, testified a doctor told her of the fetal alcohol syndrome when she adopted him.

Reade said there was no reliable diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome in the record but he doesn't suffer any cognitive or memory effects, according to his mental health information. He has numerous behavioral issues and different diagnosis of depression, anger issues, homicidal thoughts, schizo-affective disorder and alcohol abuse.

Reade said she also considered his lengthy criminal history of burglary, assault, assault on a peace officer and willful injury. He also threatened to kill his girlfriend in 2010 and was convicted.

The victims and their families submitted impact statements to the court, but didn't read them in open court.

Appleby declined to speak before his sentencing.