A Lancaster man serving decades in prison for sexual abuse of a child continues his argument that he was innocent.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court will no longer hear it.

This week, the high court denied Gary Wayne Uryc’s appeal claim that he shouldn’t have been convicted in 2012 of sexually abusing a local girl.

Uryc, 37, is serving a 32-to-64-year state-prison sentence, which Lancaster County President Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered following a local jury’s conviction.

Uryc proclaimed his innocence in court, denying allegations that he abused the girl, beginning when she was 10, for over three years.

On appeal, Uryc claims an appeal lawyer should’ve taken his case. Uryc wanted his statements to police – in which he told detectives the girl wasn’t lying about what happened – booted from trial. That lawyer didn’t feel Uryc’s appeal had any merit, so Uryc appealed without a lawyer.

The Superior Court, in a 19-page opinion, concurred with the lawyer, finding Uryc doesn’t have a valid argument.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield prosecuted the case.

Lancaster city police Detective Gareth Lowe filed charges. Lowe also charged Uryc with trying to bribe the victim, during prison phone calls, not to go through with the case.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright