Hunched over the table while looking over his notes at the front of courtroom, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz left little room for doubt as to which punishment the shackled man sitting a feet to the right of him deserved in his statement to the judge.

“He is a predator,” Fitz said. “And society does stand the need to be protected from him.”

Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Jimmy Jermaine Washington, 27, of Niles, to seven years in prison on Friday, on charges of fourth-degree and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He had previously appeared in the court on Aug. 11, when he pleaded guilty to the charges.

The two charges stem from his actions that begin over two years, Dodge said. From a period of May 2012 to May 2013, Washington repeatedly assaulted two girls, ages 9 and 13, under his care while they laid in bed at night, Dodge said.

“You took advantage as your position of authority as a father figure to these girls,” Dodge said. “You exploited your accessibility to them and the trust engendered to you as a member of their household. They trusted you and you let them down by victimizing these youngsters.”

Prior to delivering his own remarks, Fitz read aloud to the court a letter written by one of the victims’ mothers, who said that the Washington’s betrayal of the girl’s trust would leave a lasting impact on their lives.

“I hope that you get the help you need in prison so that no child will ever be hurt by you again,”

Fitz read.

Washington was convicted in 2005 for attempted criminal sexual conduct before these incidents occurred. While he was initially only given probation for the crime, he eventually violated the terms of his sentence and was sent to prison.

“Victimizing these two young girls in the way you did is very serious criminal conduct, and does, in the court’s opinion, warrants significant punishment within the guideline range.”

In addition to incarceration, Washington is required to have lifetime electronic monitoring upon his release.

He was given 195 days credit for time already served.

Also sentenced Friday:

• Charles Edward Collins, 49, of Edwardsburg, to three years of probation for meth related charges.

• Katie Irene Dentler, 32, of White Pigeon, to 120 days in jail and three years of probation for forgery and embezzlement.

• Ruby Isabel Herrera, 20, of Niles, to one year of probation for welfare fraud.

• Matthew Ray Strickland, 29, of Edwardsburg, to 18 months in prison for tampering with an electronic monitoring device.

• Joshua Ryan Meyers, 22, of Dowagiac, to 210 days in jail for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.