By NORMA LERNER
Edwardsburg Argus

A 42-year-old Edwardsburg man who claimed he was angry at his foster son and sexually assaulted him because he was acting up will spend the next 10 to 30 years in prison and will wear a lifetime electronic monitoring device for his behavior.

Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the act was despicable and that the child has nightmares. He said sexually transmitted diseases remain issues.

“He will have to serve 10 years or more for this terrible crime,” Fitz said.

The man apologized to the court. He said he has been wrestling with anger, drugs and alcohol for 25 years. He said he tried to handle it by himself but couldn’t do it. He said if he could take it back, he would, and said he doesn’t hate the boy, he just didn’t understand him.

“I lost control,” he said. “I ask (the boy) for forgiveness. It was not his fault.”

The judge said the man was not eligible for boot camp and ordered $578 in fines and costs.
The man has not been named to protect the identity of the victim.