Sentencing for a convicted child rapist has been delayed because of a letter the defendant sent to the judge.

William Rose of Sidney sent a 60-page letter to Shelby County Judge James F. Stevenson, who decided to delay the sentencing instead of having observers wait in the courtroom for defense attorney Christopher Bucio to review the letter.

Rose, 44, was in handcuffs as he was brought into a packed courtroom that included his family and the families of the victims. Some people came with speeches in hand to read to Stevenson.

Before delaying the hearing, the judge reviewed a minor court error in Rose’s plea agreement, the maximum sentence attached to one of the charges to which he pleaded guilty was off by a year.

Rose was arrested May 29 for videotaping his sexual encounter with a 12-year-old girl. Rose was released that same day, then arrested again nine days later on charges accusing him of committing child sex crimes.

Rose pleaded guilty to four counts rape, two counts of pandering obscenity and two counts illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

Rose will now be sentenced Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock.