An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty in Tulsa County District Court this week to two counts of child sexual abuse.

When Robert Wayne Crow, 61, of Broken Arrow, pleaded guilty on Monday, he waived his right to a trial. For each count of child sex abuse, Tulsa County District Judge William Musseman sentenced Crow to 25 years, with 10 years suspended. He is to spend 15 years in prison with credit for time served, and upon release, he will be required to spend an additional 10 years under the supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. As a convicted child molester, Crow will be required to register as an Oklahoma sex offender for the rest of his life.

Crow's criminal record includes a misdemeanor conviction from 2006, when he was convicted of domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor child. In that case, he was given a one year suspended sentence, with all but 4 days to be served in the Tulsa County jail and credit for time served.

The sex abuse allegations against Crow came in November, when a 12-year-old relative told her mother that the man had been touching her under her clothing for about two years. The girl said the molestation occurred "too many times to count."

Another female relative also accused Crow of sexual abuse, saying he molested her approximately three years ago, but Crow has not been charged in that case.

In Oklahoma, there are two very similar laws that deal with child molestation. These are Child Sexual Abuse (21 O.S. § 843.5) and Lewd or Indecent Proposals or Acts to a Child Under 16 (21 O.S. § 1123). Both statutes prohibit sexual contact with minors, both carry heavy penalties--up to life in prison under certain circumstances, and both are Level III sex offenses which mandate lifetime sex offender registration.

In general, the difference between child sexual abuse and lewd acts with a minor lies in the relationship between the child and his or her abuser. If a parent or other relative is accused of molesting a child, the charge filed will likely be child sexual abuse. If the person accused of sexually assaulting the child is not a relative, the charge is typically lewd acts with a minor.

Child sexual abuse carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. If the child is under the age of 12, the offense brings a minimum sentence of 25 years. While the lewd acts statute defines a "child" as anyone under the age of 16, child sexual abuse includes sexual contact with a minor under the age of 18.

Lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child under 16 typically involves a child who is unrelated to the defendant. It is punishable by three to 20 years in prison, unless the victim is under the age of 12. In that case, as with child sexual abuse, the minimum penalty is 25 years.