JURY FINDS BATES GUILTY \ PRISON SENTENCE IS 30 TO 40 YEARS

Thomas L. Bates stood impassively with his hands folded as he was convicted yesterday in Worcester Superior Court of 31 counts of sexually abusing his five adopted children. The youngest Bates child wept in the rear of the courtroom as jury foreman Susan M. Carnevale of Worcester announced the verdicts. The jury deliberated for two hours before reaching its verdict about 3:05 p.m. Bates, 51, of 133 Southville Road, Southboro, was sentenced to 30 to 40 years in Walpole state prison.

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