A Marshall County man who prosecutors characterize as a “monster” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for offenses including the sexual assault of children.
Mark LaPlante, 51, of Grant, learned his fate on Friday in an Indiana courtroom. He will also need to register as a sex offender.
Before moving to Alabama, LaPlante lived in Johnson County, Indiana, where he was found guilty of two charges of child molesting following a quick trial that ended in January. The jury deliberated for about 14 minutes before returning its decision.
The investigation found that LaPlante sexually molested a child between 2019 and 2022. During the sentencing hearing, the victim testified about LaPlante’s crimes in Alabama, as well as those in Indiana.
The judge noted LaPlante’s breach of trust with an “already vulnerable child” as the primary aggravating factor in determining his punishment.
Johnson County prosecutor Lance Hamner also spoke out on the case, declaring that LaPlante would “spend most of the rest of his miserable life in an 8′ X 10′ cage” for the years of cruelty he inflicted on an “innocent, defenseless child.”
In January, another member of the prosecution team praised the victim’s bravery.
“It takes a tremendous amount of courage and strength for a child to not only tell what is happening but also to face their abuser in court and describe such heinous acts they endured,” Deputy Prosecutor Bridget Foust said. “Without such bravery, we would not be able to hold those that hurt children accountable and stop them from hurting anyone else.”
LaPlante risked up to 52 years in prison.