Man who molested 15-year-old says he's too old for prison.

Convicted sex offender Bennie Chavez, 72, a former Grants parks and recreation employee, was sentenced in February by state District Judge Camille Martinez-Olguin to 30 years in prison, with all but 6 1/2 years suspended, with five to 20 years on probation.

He was arrested by Grants police in September 2004 and charged with 80 counts of criminal sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl he supervised at a city job in the summer of 2003, and was found guilty of 43 counts when he went to trial last July.

Now Chavez is appealing that sentence, reportedly claiming through his attorney that he could die behind bars, according to a report on the KOB-TV Web site.

The Cibola County Beacon, according to a story on its Web site, reported that the reason for the appeal is not in the court record, but was told by prosecutors that they believe the appeal, which they oppose, is keep Chavez from going to prison.

Prosecutors noted in their response to the appeal that Chavez had been in a position of authority when the crimes were committed and showed no remorse for his past crimes or toward the teenage victim during his recent trial, the Beacon reported.

Chavez, who was 68 at the time of the offenses, is reportedly in good health and is able to serve his time and be treated in a sex offender program at the same time, prosecutors said.

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