Niles man gets 25 years for sexual assault of minor

NILES — A packed courtroom witnessed a Niles man being sentenced to 25 years in prison for molesting a minor child between 2020 and 2022. Family and friends of the victim along with members of the Michiana chapter of Guardians of the Children filled the courtroom at the Niles courthouse.

      Samuel Cole McClain, 36, of Niles, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under age 13 and a defendant over age 17 and was sentenced to 25 years to 50 years in prison. He has credit for 105 days served and must pay $258 in fines and costs. He must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

      The incidents between January 2020 and December 2022 at a location in Niles.

      The victim’s mother spoke before the sentencing as did a member of the Guardians of the Children who read the victim’s statement. In all, over two dozen people attended the sentencing to support the victim and her family.

      The statement from the victim noted that she has had trouble coping with what happened including having trouble sleeping and focusing on her school work. She said she had to cover up bruises she suffered from the physical abuse at his hands as well as the emotional abuse from when he threatened to kill himself if she told anyone.

      “I never want to see him again,” the victim said in her statement. “I suffered physical, social and emotional harm. I was isolated from my mom and my friends. I ask for the most severe punishment possible.”

      The victim’s mother said that her daughter’s life has been completely transformed after the abuse and that she has suffered from anxiety and depression. “Her memories follow her everywhere,” the mother said. “… He stole her innocence and it will have an impact on her for the rest of her life.”

      The mother asked for a sentence of life in prison. “The sentence should reflect what he did to her,” she said. “My daughter is a good kid, she didn’t deserve this.”

      Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Jerry Vigansky said McClain deserves every day of prison that he will get. “It will take a very long time for her to get over it, it will take the rest of her life,” he said.

      McClain said he accepted responsibility for his actions and apologized to the victim and her family. “I’m deeply ashamed of myself, I wish I could take back what I did,” he said.

      Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein called it a “despicable crime.” He said that while his sentence wouldn’t take away her pain, he was thankful that she had the support of family and friends. “A lot of young people are abused and people don’t believe them,” he said. “I’m grateful that people are standing by you.”

The post Niles man gets 25 years for sexual assault of minor appeared first on Leader Publications.