A Niles man faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison after a Cass County jury found him guilty Wednesday of several counts of criminal sexual conduct.

The 12-person panel found James Parish, 52, guilty of four counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and second degree with a child under the age of 13, after a day of testimony and presentation of evidence by Cass County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tiffiny Vohwinkle.

The jury took approximately one hour to reach its verdict.

“The defendant committed reprehensible acts against a child, his family and society,” said Prosecutor Victor Fitz. “Justice was served for the victim in this case.”

Testimony revealed that the abuse occurred between 2007 and 2008, during the time that Parish watched the victim while her mother worked at night. The victim told her mother of the abuse a few years later, which she immediately reported to the Dowagiac Police Department.

The prosecution presented evidence that Parish admitted to authorities that he abused the victim on two occasions, though he denied both his actions and the confession when he took the stand during the trial.

Parish faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the charges. He is scheduled for sentencing on March 28, in front of Judge Michael Dodge.