A St. Paul man who admitted to masturbating during his young students’ ostensible acting lessons was sentenced to the maximum jail time allowable under state law Monday.

In March, Nicholas Barghini, 31, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to one count of second-degree criminal-sexual conduct, a felony, and three counts of fifth-degree criminal-sexual conduct, all gross misdemeanors.

On Monday, Judge Nicole J. Starr sentenced Barghini to a year in jail, for which he has already served more than a third. Barghini also received a “stayed sentence” of an additional three years of jail time, which he will serve if he violates terms of his probation. Barghini was sentenced to 25 years of probation after his release from jail.

Barghini admitted to masturbating during his young students’ lessons after ordering them to lie on their stomachs, removing their shoes and socks, and having them read monologues.

His victims ranged in age from 8 to 11. All of the victims’ parents had responded to ads Barghini took out for private, free acting classes he then taught at Riverview and Merriam Park libraries in St. Paul, according to statements his attorney made in court.

One of the parents added in court Monday that Barghini sometimes offered “make-up” classes at his home as well.

Several of the parents were present at the sentencing hearing to offer impact statements, at times expressing guilt and shame — emotions Starr attempted to quell as she handed down the sentence.

“I had to ask myself when this whole thing started, what did I do? … I thought I was bringing her to a safe place — a library of all places,” one mother said, adding, ““I chose to believe my daughter. … My daughter did her part: She said something.”

The parents did everything they could to protect their children, judge Starr said minutes later, before turning to Barghini. “There is simply nothing that they could have known about you that would have tipped them off. …I want them to know that they did everything right, that they are good parents.”

The first charges were filed against Barghini after one of the students told their mother Barghini had done some “weird stuff” during the lessons; the mother said in court that her daughter “shriveled up, into a fetal position,” on the ride home.

The woman turned back to the library where the class was conducted, asked to see surveillance footage, and watched a video of Barghini removing her daughter’s shoes and socks and burying his face in her feet while touching them and masturbating, according to court documents.

Another mother told the judge that her daughter’s father couldn’t allow himself to attend any of the court hearings, for fear of losing his temper and trying to attack Barghini.

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Minneapolis teen charged in shooting death of campaign worker During their investigation, police also found a piece of paper in Barghini’s wallet outlining his “sex goals,” along with a desire to form a cult.

Barghini read a statement in court apologizing to the parents for abusing their families’ trust, saying, “I lost my way in believing I was the most important… I will always regret acting so selfishly.”