A Niles man will spending the next two years behind bars for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl under the pretenses of giving her a massage.

Judge Michael Dodge sentenced John Ellis Solloway, 20, to two years in prison on Friday on a single count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. Solloway pleaded guilty to the charge during a previous appearance in court on July 28.

According to the court, the incident occurred on Jan. 21, when Solloway forced himself on the victim, who was living with him at the time, after convincing her to allow him to give her a massage.

“This is an extremely serious crime,” Dodge said. “If she was a year younger, you would be going away to prison for 25 years and you would be subject to lifetime electronic monitoring. That’s how close you came to that kind of devastating outcome.”

According to the pre-sentence report, the victim is currently undergoing counseling, and has withdrawn from friends due to the incident, Dodge said.

In her statements to Dodge prior to sentencing, Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle asked the judge for a harsh prison sentence, despite a lack of prior convictions.

“I know that a prison sentence for a first offense is not always an easy one for the court to do, but in this case I do recommend it,” Vohwinkle said. “At this point, the defendant is a danger to public, to society and to himself, quite frankly.”

Solloway’s defense attorney, Lanny Fisher, recommended a lighter sentence for his client, claiming that the 20-year-old was in therapy himself to help come to terms with his actions.

“I’ve been involved with this case since before Solloway was arrested,” Fisher said. “From that first day up through now, he has been shaking like a leaf.”

Despite these facts, Dodge said he found little justification to deviate from the mandated sentencing guidelines, which presume a prison sentence.

“I don’t find the fact you’ve maintained a job or that you’re going to counseling or anything else I’ve heard that constituents a substantial or compelling reason to deviate from the guideline range,” Dodge said.

Solloway was given credit for one day already served.