An east China university associate professor was sentenced Thursday to three and a half years in jail for organizing group sex parties.

Ma Yaohai [File photo]

The Qinhuai District People's Court in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, handed down verdicts to 22 people, including associate professor Ma Yaohai, after convicting them on charges of group licentiousness.

Ma was given three and a half years, 18 others were sentenced to different jail terms up to two and a half years and the rest three were exempted from criminal penalties as they turned themselves in.

The court had heard how the 14 men and eight women met through an online chat room and engaged in dozens of group sexual activities from 2007 to 2009. Some of the parties were held in hotels, while others were held at Ma's residence.

Ma, 53, worked at a university in Nanjing. He admitted the facts, but argued that, as all the defendants were voluntary adult participants, they were not guilty of any criminal activities.

However, the chief judge said group licentiousness infringed public order.

Ma's defender, Yao Yong'an, told Xinhua Ma would appeal the conviction and sentence.

The other 21 defendants admitted guilt, said prosecutors for Qinhuai District.