A Southeast Portland babysitter was sentenced to more than six years in prison after he was convicted of attempting to sexually abuse an 8-year-old girl in his care and groping a 6-year-old relative.

Robert Lee Hill had been facing 25 years or more in prison over accusations he repeatedly raped the 8-year-old girl. The girl's father worked nights and had hired Hill and his wife -- the parents of two elementary-school-aged children -- to care for the girl in their home.

Prosecutors declined to elaborate on why Hill received the lighter sentence but indicated there would be problems proving the alleged abuse at trial.

Prosecutor Amity Girt said the girl had been very specific in her descriptions.

According to court papers filed by the prosecution, the girl told child-abuse investigators that Hill had used a blue thing that vibrated and looked like Hill's private part, according to a probable cause affidavit. Hill's wife told police that Hill had given her a blue vibrator, and she gave it to police as evidence in the investigation.

After the girl's abuse allegation came to light, a member of Hill's extended family came forward to say he had groped her chest on her 6th birthday and again when she was 14.

As part a plea agreement, Hill pleaded no contest to first-degree sexual abuse for an incident involving the relative and attempted first-degree sodomy for an another involving the girl he babysat.

He was sentenced to more than six years of prison for the abuse of the relative and 10 years of probation for the attempted abuse of the other girl.

Charges of first-degree rape, sodomy and unlawful sexual penetration were dismissed. Also dismissed were charges of witness tampering involving his now-estranged wife, whom he allegedly tried to persuade against appearing before a grand jury, and one of his children.

Hill will be required to register as a sex offender when he's released from prison.

-- Aimee Green

503-294-5119