By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
A yard worker convicted of forcibly groping a woman at her home in Newcastle has been sentenced to up to five years in Utah State Prison.
Andrew Gerard Wirsing, 51, was sentenced last week in Cedar City’s 5th District Court after pleading guilty on Aug. 12 to two counts of attempted forcible sexual abuse, both third-degree felonies. The charges stemmed from incidents that occurred on June 7, 2024, at the woman’s residence.
Wirsing’s charges were initially filed as second-degree felonies but were reduced in severity as part of a plea agreement.
According to court documents filed in support of the charges, Wirsing was hired to do yard work at the victim’s home. The homeowner reported that Wirsing groped her twice—once before mowing the lawn and again after finishing the job.
Deputies from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office arrested Wirsing on June 22, 2024, after he admitted to the inappropriate conduct but claimed he couldn’t recall all of the details.
“Andrew stated he could not remember everything that happened, as he was under the influence of narcotics,” the affidavit states.
During the sentencing hearing, Iron County prosecutor Shane Klenk stressed the seriousness of the offense, noting that Wirsing continued his actions even after the victim had told him to stop and resisted his advances.
He further argued that while the plea deal allowed for a reduction in charges, Wirsing’s actions were severe enough to warrant a prison sentence.
Wirsing, who spoke briefly during the hearing, said he had been participating in addiction recovery programs while in custody.
“I’ve been trying to further my education and better myself,” he said.
Judge Matthew L. Bell followed the state’s recommendation, imposing a sentence of zero to five years in the Utah State Prison for each charge. The two counts will run concurrently, meaning Wirsing will serve both sentences at the same time, rather than one after the other.
The Iron County Attorney’s Office also expressed support for the sentence calling Wirsing’s actions “brazen and violating.”
“Sexual assault is inexcusable, and I applaud the victim for having the courage to report this and tell her story,” Dotson said.