MONROE — A Lafayette County child care provider was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday, after pleading guilty to felony child sexual assault charges, according to court records.

The sentence for repeated sexual assault of the same child was handed down to Robert A. Sweeney by Circuit Judge Thomas J. Vale in Lafayette County Circuit Court. Sweeney pleaded not guilty to charges against him October 18, 2022, records show, but changed his plea at a Wednesday hearing. 

He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, for which he was sentenced to five years, to run concurrent to the 10-year sentence.

Six additional charges of possession of child pornography were dismissed but read in to the record, apparently as part of a plea agreement. Prior to the hearing, Sweeney had been free on bond.

It is unclear whether the child victim was related to the suspect; or in his immediate care at a home-based day care.