A Jim Thorpe man was sentenced on Friday to a long state prison term for the sexual assault of young children.

Jared Andrew Novy, 36, was sentenced to serve a total of five years and 11 months to 12 years in a state correctional institution by Judge Joseph J. Matika, who called the defendant “a monster.”

Novy previously pleaded guilty in three cases to aggravated indecent assault on a person less than 13, and two counts of indecent assault on a person less than 13.

Jim Thorpe police charged Novy with having sexual contact with three children, two girls then ages 7 and 10, and one male, then age 4.

In all, he was charged with a total of 22 counts — 16 counts for the case involving the 7-year-old, and three counts each for the other two victims.

The charges included rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Defense attorney Matthew Mottola, of the public defender’s office, said Novy got involved in drugs and alcohol, which led to his actions.

Novy told the court, “I take responsibility for my actions. I wish I could take back everything, that it didn’t happen.”

He claimed his judgment was made cloudy by his drug abuse.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo, who prosecuted the case, took issue with Novy’s claim of remorse.

“This was a despicable act that didn’t happen on one day but over a period of time,” he said.

He found the case very disturbing because Novy took a video of himself molesting one of the female victim’s and then put it on social media.

Because of that action Novy is facing federal charges of distributing sexual material via video.

Matika also took issue with Novy’s claim of responsibility, noting that during an interview with the adult probation office in preparation of a presentence investigation report, Novy continued to deny the charges, despite pleading guilty.

Matika told him, “You’re a monster. You preyed on these children. These children may never be the same.”

According to the criminal complaints, borough police received a report on Dec. 3, 2016, indicating possible sexual assault of a child.

The children said Novy showed the 7- and 4-year-olds pornographic videos and touched the little girl. The children said they showered with him, and the boy had witnessed the encounter between Novy and the girl. These incidents occurred in December 2016.

The incident with the 10-year-old girl occurred in March 2016 in the borough. In that case, he made sexual contact with the girl.

Matika’s sentence went above the minimum term under state sentencing guidelines, but fell within the standard range.

On the aggravated assault charge, Matika imposed a four to eight-year term, on a charge of indecent assault a term of one to two years and on another count of indecent assault, 11 to 24 months, with the terms running consecutively.

Matika also ordered Novy to undergo a sexual offenders evaluation, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, make restitution of $1,690 to the victim’s compensation board, have no contact with the victims, have not unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, pay court costs of about $1,000, and when released from prison render a total of 200 hours of community service.

Novy must also register for the rest of his life as a sexual offender.

He was given a total of 335 days credit for time spent in prison on the charges.

Novy is currently an inmate in the Lackawanna County prison in Scranton on a federal detainer.