Pittsburgh-area ice cream shop owner convicted of abusing girls gets 20 to 40 years in prison

A suburban Pittsburgh ice cream store owner convicted of sexually abusing two young girls has been sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (http://bit.ly/1EHnHRc ) reports 62-year-old David Higginbotham was sentenced Thursday by an Allegheny County judge.

A defense attorney says Higginbotham maintains his innocence and plans to appeal.

Higginbotham was convicted in August of molesting the girls several times from 2008 to 2013, including visits at his home, at a school chorus concert and at a swimming pool. The girls are now 12 and 13.

The older girl reported the abuse to her parents. The parents called police, who also learned about the younger girl.

Higginbotham was arrested in November 2013 at his Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt store in McCandless.

___

Information from: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, http://pghtrib.com