Staff photo / Ed Runyan Todd Perkins of Youngstown, left, stands with his attorney, Thomas Zena, during Perkins’ plea hearing Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Perkins was found guilty to two counts of rape involving young girls.

YOUNGSTOWN — Todd Perkins, 55, of Coitsville Hubbard Road, pleaded no contest Wednesday to two counts of rape involving two children.

His plea avoided a trial scheduled for Monday.

Perkins, an electrician, pleaded no contest before Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to a sex act involving a girl between October 2015 and October 2016 who was about 4 years old.

The girl also described inappropriate touching, said Jennifer McLaughlin, assistant county prosecutor.

The other rape occurred between August 2009 and August 2011 and involved a child who was about 8 or 9 years old.

“It went on for years,” McLaughlin said.

The judge found Perkins guilty.

Perkins was indicted in six counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition involving the two children.

McLaughlin said prosecutors will recommend that Perkins get 15 years in prison. He also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Sweeney, however, could give Perkins more than 20 years in prison. A sentencing date does not yet appear on the court’s docket.