An elderly Mechanicsville man was convicted on three counts of soliciting sex from a minor on Friday in Louisa County Circuit Court.

According to Louisa Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Garrett, Irvin “Pete” Baldwin, 81, was charged after internet incidents on Nov. 23, Nov. 30 and Dec. 4, 2009.

During the trial, which got under way on Thursday, Rusty McGuire, deputy commonwealth attorney, argued that the defendant’s graphic sexual conversations, his instructions to the minor to erase the records of their conversations and his appearance in Louisa at his requested meeting time and locations established his intent.

The jury took less than 15 minutes to convict Baldwin and recommended 90 years in prison, 30 on each count, the maximum sentence allowed.

“Justice was served today in a Louisa courtroom. Children are safer in the commonwealth today because of the hard work of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office as a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Det. Patrick Siewert,” Garrett said.

At sentencing, McGuire argued for a substantial sentence due to the defendant’s past history as a pastor, Sunday school teacher, business owner and lack of criminal record.

While Baldwin’s attorney argued these were positives, McGuire said “the defendant was living the American Dream and if anybody knew better it was an 81-year-old with his background. Instead he chose to steal the innocence of what he thought was a 13-year-old child.”

Baldwin will be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Nov. 15.