When asked by Judge Michael Dodge if she had anything to say about the sexual affair she had with a 15-year-old, Melissa Davies wiped the tears rolling down her face. She stifled the sobbing that she had been doing since sitting down at the table in front the judge’s bench.

“No sir, your honor,” the woman replied.

Dodge sentenced Davies, 22, of Cassopolis, to five years of probation at Cass County Court Friday for the charge of criminal sexual conduct, assault with the intent to commit sexual penetration. Davies had pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier appearance in court, on July 3.

According to the court, the charge stemmed from an incident that occurred on May 29, when Davies, who was 21 at the time, invited the teenage victim to her apartment on
Graham Street in Cassopolis. Alone, the two began kissing one another, eventually leading to intercourse.

“The fact of the matter is that you clearly knew the victim was only 15, and therefore not old enough to legally consent to this sexual activity,” Dodge said. “You didn’t have any business engaging in this type of conduct.”

The judge also pointed out that the woman has two children of her own, a 2-year-old and 3-year-old, as well as the fact that she was in long-term romantic relationship at the time.

“You knew it was something you shouldn’t have been doing,” Dodge said. “It was clearly inappropriate and illegal.”

Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle read a letter from the victim’s mother to the court before Dodge rendered his sentence. According the letter, her son has several mental conditions, and has the judgment and rationalization of a 7-year-old.

“This was a child who was by no means ready for sex, in any form,” Vohwinkle read.

Since the incident, the victim has had lower academic performance in school and has been running afoul of law enforcement, currently serving a term of probation, the mother said.

Dodge also gave Davies 180 days in jail, but said that that sentence may be suspended pending her compliance with probation terms.

Also sentenced Friday:

• James Lee George, 49, of Niles, to one year of probation for possession of marijuana and Vicodin.

• James Ronald Neal, 51, of Vandalia, to 90 days in jail for shoplifting and possession of marijuana.

• Jason King, 39, of Niles, to two years of probation for failing to register his new address with the Michigan sex offender registry.

• Christopher Lee Alwine, 37, of Cassopolis, to one year of probation for the manufacture of marijuana.