WETZEL COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) — Emotions ran high outside the Wetzel County Courthouse during the sentencing of Joseph Ward, who took a plea deal on charges for sex crimes against children.

Ward was scheduled to go on trial for 32 accounts of alleged sex crimes against children, but he entered into a plea deal on July 1.

His sentencing took place in the Wetzel County Court House Wednesday, and many gathered outside to express their outrage over the terms of the deal. Ward will serve two years in prison, and he will have to register as a sex offender for life.

“I would love to go somewhere and disappear for two years and get my old Alena back, that’s just a slap on the wrist. He’s going to go away for 2 years, it's been going on 6 years, and you know she's never going to be the same. She's

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