Perry County, KY (WMDJ) - A Perry County man has been convicted on multiple felony charges for sexually abusing children under the age of 12.

Kentucky Attorney General’s Office announced today in a press release that a jury found 58-year-old Harrison Cress guilty on two counts of first-degree sodomy (child under 12), one count of incest (child under 12), and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse (child under 12).

Investigators said Cress groomed and built trust with the victims before exploiting and abusing them. One of the children eventually reported the abuse to her grandmother, which led to an investigation.

The jury recommended three life sentences because of the severity of the crimes. The victims were interviewed at Children’s Advocacy Centers in Ashland and Hazard, where details from those interviews helped lead to Cress’s arrest.

Anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect in Kentucky can report it by calling 1-877-KYSAFE1.