Timothy Lee Solloway simply hung his head staring down at shackled hands as the judge sitting at the bench in front of him handed down the highest punishment permitted under Michigan law.

Judge Michael Dodged sentenced Solloway, 30, of Dowagiac, to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday morning for first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Dodge found Solloway guilty of that charge and two counts of failure to comply with the sex offender registry during a bench trial that took place on Oct. 1.

The criminal sexual conduct charge stems from an incident that occurred last year in late July, when Solloway sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy in his care. Authorities were contacted about the attack a short time later, after a medical examination determined that the child had suffered wounds consistent with sexual assault.

“[Solloway] tore and ripped his tender little body, for his own disgusting pleasure,” said Cass County Assistant Prosecutor

Tiffiny Vohwinkle.

The other two charges stemmed from the investigation by the Dowagiac Police Department, where detectives found multiple cell phones that Solloway had failed to report to police, as per sex offender registration laws.

The Dowagiac man had a history of predatory sexual behavior, with a previous conviction of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, and has been on the sex offender list since 2001. As a result, he was tried and convicted as a fourth-time habitual offender.

In her statements to the judge, Vohwinkle argued that Solloway should spend the rest of his days behind bars due to his past history and to ensure that he never harms the victim ever again.

“[The victim] deserves justice,” she said. “He deserves to be able to go to sleep at night and not wake up with nightmares about [Solloway] climbing on top of him every night, to not have that fear.”

When asked for comment before his sentencing, Solloway maintained his innocence, and said he intended on appealing.

Also sentenced Friday:

• Ryan Lee Rutherford, 40, of Marcellus, to 18 months of probation and 60 days in jail for unlawfully driving away in a vehicle.

• Cody Garl-Lee Wilson, 18, of Dowagiac, to 240 days in jail for failure to comply with the sex offender registry.

• Kellie Jo Peek, 49, of Jones, to two years of probation and 90 days in jail for possession of methamphetamine.

• Seth Ryan Keesler, 39, of Marcellus, to 10 months in jail for possession of a firearm by a felon.