CASSOPOLIS — A 25-year-old Dowagiac man will spend less than a year in jail for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in August.

Judge Michael Dodge sentenced David Eichel to 270 days in jail Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Dodge said it was the maximum sentence he could impose on Eichel, who pleaded guilty to felony criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree in March.

Eichel’s guilty plea came in exchange for the prosecution dropping the more serious original charge of CSC in the third degree.

If Eichel had been charged with CSC in the third degree, Dodge said he would have been facing a prison sentence between 24 to 40 months.

In addition to the jail sentence, Eichel was placed on probation for five years and was ordered to not have any contact with the victim.

The victim’s mother told the court her daughter has been suicidal since the incident, which occurred on Aug. 30.

The victim was babysitting at the home where Eichel was staying when the sexual assault occurred.

Eichel receives credit for 65 days already served.

Sentencing guidelines were zero to nine months.