KERRVILLE — A former cook at Pathways 3H Youth Ranch was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday and fined $6,000 after being convicted of indecency with a child for fondling a 14-year-old camper in 2010.

Testifying against the advice of his lawyer, defendant Helmut Feit, 62, denied the boy's claim that he groped the youth five or six times in vehicles at the Kerr County camp, which serves troubled teen boys.

A former executive chef at hotels, Feit also denied possessing child pornography, despite trial testimony that a computer seized from his Junction home held images of boys engaging in sexual activities.

Defense attorney Stephen Harpold, who asked the jury for probation, urged Feit to not testify, noting that he still faces four charges of indecency in Kerrville over complaints by the same victim, as well as 13 counts of possessing child pornography in Kimble County.

Prosecutor Lucy Wilke, who asked the jury to sentence Feit to 20 years, praised Pathways officials for alerting authorities to concerns about Feit.

Camp staffers became alarmed after discovering letters Feit sent the boy in which he expressed love and discussed adoption.

“Just remember that I'm never away from you as long as you keep me in your heart like I do yours in mine,” said a letter dated Oct, 6, 2010, and signed “Your Loving Dad.”

In another letter, Feit said he sensed the boy was uneasy when Feit rubbed the boy's tummy, which the youth described in court as a precursor to Feit fondling his genitals.

“I want you to know that we are a very loving, close family and believe in close and intimate physical contact,” Feit wrote.