JOLIET – A Minooka man pleaded guilty Friday to sexually abusing two young girls.

Gerald P. Klein, 77, of the 23800 block of South Cottonwood Lane, will serve 30 days in jail and three years of sex-offender probation.

Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Klein after he pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Klein must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Klein had faced up to 30 years in prison, but charges of predatory criminal sexual assault were dismissed as part of the plea.

In 2007, Klein touched the genitals on an 8-year-old girl who was at his house.

On another occasion he rubbed his legs against the legs of another 8-year-old girl in a sexual manner, Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Slazyk told Bertani-Tomczak.

Both girls’ parents learned about the inappropriate contact the following year and contacted Will County Sheriff’s police, who conducted interviews but did not proceed with charges, according to police.

Four years later, the victims provided new information that led to Klein’s arrest in November 2012.

Klein is banned from having contact with minors, but will be allowed to attend religious services, Bertani-Tomczak ruled over prosecutor’s objections.

Klein declined to give a statement during court proceedings and was booked into the Will County jail.