News Photo by Temi Fadayomi Defendant Aaron Trout sits next to his attorney Bill Pfeifer in Alcona County’s 23rd Circuit Court on Wednesday. Trout was sentenced to 55 to 90 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge and 30 to 60 years for the first-degree child abuse charge.

HARRISVILLE — Aaron Trout is looking at over half a century in prison following his sentencing for the violent abuse and murder of a young girl.

Trout was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse of 2-year-old Jayde McDonnell, the child of Trout’s then-girlfriend Adrienne Pavelka and Gannon McDonnell.

Before receiving his sentence Trout was given an opportunity to speak before Judge Laura Frawley and the court.

In his speech, Trout continued to insist that he was innocent of Jayde McDonnell’s murder and, despite his conviction, he knows he is a good person.

“I know that my kids love me, I know that I’m a good man,” said Trout. “I guess bad things happen to good people.”

Despite his continued claims of innocence, Trout did apologize for what had happened to Jayde McDonnell and asked the judge to give him a more lenient sentence.

“I really am sorry with all my heart,” said Trout tout to Judge Frawley. “I hope you find it in your heart to give me a sentence that is not so harsh.”

Despite his request for leniency, Judge Frawley sentenced Trout to 55 to 90 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge and 30 to 60 years for the first-degree child abuse charge.

Judge Frawely’s sentence not only exceeded the initial Cobbs recommendations of 37 to 75 years but even went beyond the prosecution’s request of 50 to 80 years.

Judge Frawley explained that her ruling came from her not believing that the guidelines used to determine Trout’s original recommendation were inadequate in addressing the horror that McDonnel had at Trout’s hand.

“I, like everyone else here today, have been thinking about this case,” Frawley said. “I believe the guidelines are inadequate…The facts of this case demonstrate a cold calculated depravity on the part of the defendant.”

Judge Frawley would go on to express Trout’s actions against McDonnell as well as his lack of remorse in those actions demonstrate a truly unique level of evil that despite her many years of experience is beyond her comprehension.

“You are pure evil,” said Judge Frawley to Trout. “You don’t have even a scintilla of human compassion in you… I’ve seen a lot of things in 38 years and this is beyond my ability to comprehend.”

Trout will be serving his sentences concurrently, and has received 565 days of credit for his sentence.