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TAUNTON - During his rape trial last month, former Norton dance teacher Keith Sampson told the jury he never had sex with a 15-year-old female student.

The jury didn't believe him, and convicted Sampson, 29, of one of two counts of statutory rape.

On Friday, Judge D. Lloyd MacDonald told Sampson in Taunton Superior Court he didn't believe him, either. He sentenced Sampson to a four- to seven-year prison term, which is above state guidelines.

"Mr. Sampson, you lied to the court and to the jury," MacDonald said before handing down the sentence, which will require Sampson to serve at least four years.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the jury was right," MacDonald added. Sampson showed no visible emotion after being sentenced. Before he was led out of the courtroom in cuffs and leg irons, he smiled and waved to about a dozen friends and family members.

Sampson was convicted in a three-day trial of having sex with a 15-year-old Norton girl in January 2005 in a room he rented at the Holiday Inn, where he invited the girl and a friend to play drinking games.

The jury found him innocent of having sex with the girl a month later at her home.

Sampson was arrested after an investigation by Norton Detective Todd Bramwell and Tom Carroll of the Bristol County district attorney's office.

Although the girl engaged in sex with Sampson, despite not being able to legally consent, the judge said she was still victimized by the exposure of the trial. He also said Sampson took advantage of the trust her family and his employer had in him.

MacDonald said Sampson took no responsibility for his actions and sympathized with the girl's mother, who testified about confronting Sampson during a tense meeting at the dance studio.

"He deserves to be sent to the state's prison," the judge told the courtroom before directing his comments to the defendant. "Mr. Sampson you deserve to be held to account."

His lawyer, Robert Mann of Providence, who asked that Sampson be given probation, declined to comment afterwards. He cited the pending rape case against Sampson in Taunton District Court.

While free on bail and shortly before trial in the Norton case, Sampson was charged with giving alcohol to a 15-year-old student he met at a dance studio in Johnston, R.I., then raping her in his South Easton condominium.

The Norton girl's father said he was happy with the judge's sentence. "He got what he deserved. At the next trial, hopefully, they will throw away the key," said the girl's father, who added that Sampson manipulated his daughter in his capacity as a teacher.

The Sun Chronicle has a policy of not identifying victims in sex abuse cases without their permission.

Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Brackett, who asked for a five- to seven-year sentence, said she was satisfied with the judge's sentence.

"I'm very pleased. It was certainly in conformity to what we recommended," Brackett said.

State sentencing guidelines for a defendant like Sampson with no criminal record call for 3 to five years in prison. The guidelines are not mandatory.

After his release, Sampson is required to provide a DNA sample to the state and must register as a sex offender.