A former highways superintendent from Sullivan County was sentenced today to 22 years in state prison following a sex crime conviction last year.

Robert Hufcut was the former Mamakating highways superintendent and chief of the Summitville Fire Company. He was convicted in December of sexual abuse against a child under the age of 13 between 2000 and 2001.

Hufcut denies it ever happened.

County prosecutors pushed for the maximum sentence of 25 years and seemed satisfied with Orange County Court Judge Craig Steven Brown's final decision.

Hufcut's defense attorney says he believes Hufcut got a fair trial, but the jury just got it wrong. Judge Brown disagrees.

"Not only was the defendant's guilt proven beyond a reasonable doubt, it was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt," he said.

Judge Brown gave Hufcut 20 years post-release supervision. He must also register as a sex offender upon his release.

Hufcut's attorney says he plans to appeal his conviction.