(CENTREVILLE) – A Constantine man has been sentenced for criminal sexual conduct.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor David Marvin says 38 year old Richard Jackson was sentenced Friday to ten years in the Michigan Department Of Corrections.

On February 15, Jackson plead guilty to Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. He was arrested in the summer of 2023 on three counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct following alleged incidents with a 9 year old girl.

The plea agreement was negotiated by Marvin after he met personally with the victim and her family to discuss the case and prepare the victim for testifying during a jury trial.

Marvin says he asked for a prison sentence at the high end of the guideline range, and he’s happy the judge agreed with his recommendation. Marvin says the girl can now heal and continue her childhood, knowing the defendant will never harm her again.