A Kunkletown man who raped a then-9-year old girl and showed her sexually explicit photos he took of her then 11-year old sister in 2018 will serve jail time after pleading guilty to two counts of endangering the welfare of children.

Dirk James Merkle Jr., 34, was charged with statutory sexual assault of a person 11 years younger than he; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child; aggravated indecent assault of a child; sexual assault; photographing/filming/depicting a sex act; corruption of minors; indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old; indecent exposure, and endangering the welfare of a child on June 1, 2018.

Judge Joseph J. Matika on Dec. 7 sentenced Merkle to serve one year less one day to two years less one day in the Carbon County Correctional Facility on the first of the two charges.

He gave him credit for the 729 days he’d already served.

Merkle will serve two years probation after he gets out of jail.

He’ll also undergo a sexual offender evaluation, and render 100 hours of community service.

On the second of the charges, he’ll serve four to 23 months, with 88 days credit.

He’ll serve the time concurrently with the first sentence.