STERLING, Colo. —  A 52-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter and beating his wife with a baseball bat because he thought she was a ghost was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.

Willie Leon McCoy denied the allegations at his sentencing hearing Friday and told a judge he would never hurt his 6-year-old stepdaughter.

McCoy's lawyer says she will appeal his convictions and sentencing.

McCoy says the distress of having his children taken away after his stepdaughter accused him of the abuse made him go on a drinking binge. That's when police arrested him on suspicion of assaulting his wife with a bat.

McCoy was convicted last year of aggravated incest, sexual assault on child by someone in a position of trust, and sexual assault on a child, pattern of abuse.