A Clifton Park man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing children.

Luke Margison was arrested in May 2023 after police said he abused multiple victims over numerous years. Margison had pleaded guilty to the charges in August.

The prosecutor read powerful victim impact statements from his two victims, with who he was familiar.

One of the victims said in the statement that Margison molested her from when she was a little girl and made fun of her.

“He is a monster and will always be one. I don’t see hope for him,” she said. 

The victim said Margison got her into drinking and doing marijuana when she became a teenager.

The second victim said that Margison took away her innocence and hurt her ability to trust people. The abuse started when she was around 5 and continued until she was around 13.

“I will never forget the first time he touched me. I thought he wanted a hug,” she said.

“He seemed to like the game – the thrill of it. I will be forever haunted by the things he did to me,” she said. 

Margison took the opportunity to speak when given the chance.

“I know what I did was wrong, and I’m sorry for all the people I’ve hurt; and I wish I could take it all back,” he said. 

Judge Jim Murphy said Margison has previous convictions for burglary and driving while ability impaired by alcohol. He previously spent time in state prison.

Murphy read a portion of the pre-sentencing report, which said Margison deserves a severe prison term.

“The defendant’s actions demonstrate a clear pattern of manipulation, exploitation and gross breach of trust. These are not isolated incidents of poor judgment, but represent deeply entrenched predatory behavior that demands serious consequences,” he said.

Murphy handed down a sentence of 10 years in prison on the criminal sex act charge, 10 years for attempted rape, 7 years for sexual abuse and 1 1/3 to 4 years for possessing a sexual performance by a child. All of the sentences will run concurrently, which will mean a total of 10 years in prison and 15 years of post-release supervision.

There are also orders in protection for the victims and Margison will have to register as a sex offender.

To hear the victim impact statements: