CASSOPOLIS — A 21-year-old Niles man is going to prison for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old boy in August of 2012.

The victim reported that Daniel Catt inserted a toy vacuum cleaner in his anus on Aug. 13 in Howard Township. While Catt denied that claim, he did admit to fondling the victim, resulting in the felony charge of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. Catt, who in May pleaded guilty to the charge, was 20 at the time of the offense.

“The criminal sexual conduct to which you have admitted victimized a very young child and it does necessitate a prison sentence,” said Judge Michael Dodge before sentencing Catt to a minimum of three years in the Michigan Department of Corrections Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Catt will also be subjected to lifetime electronic monitoring as mandated by the state in criminal sexual conduct in the second-degree convictions.

Catt’s prior record was limited to an aggravated assault conviction of a sexual nature out of Kalamazoo in 2010. Dodge said Catt forcibly grabbed the victim’s breast in that case.

Catt received credit for 265 days already served. Sentencing guidelines were 29 to 57 months.