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CASSOPOLIS — A Niles man was sentenced to jail and probation Friday in Cass County Circuit Court after being caught trying to accost a minor for immoral purposes. 

      Stephen Frank Gill, 38, of Lake Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to accost children for immoral purposes and was sentenced to three years probation, 150 days in jail with credit for 103 days served, registering as a sex offender for 25 years and $3,188 in fines and costs.

      The incident occurred in February in Howard Township. A woman with the Boopac’s Promise organization contacted the Cass County Sheriff’s Office after she had posed as an underage female and had contact with Gill. She reported that Gill had sent videos and photos of himself to her.

      Boopac’s Promise is an organization that works to catch online predators. The organization honors Robert Wayne “Boopac” Lee II who had been working to catch online predators by posing as an underage female before he was killed in 2023 in Oakland County, Michigan.

      Assistant Prosecutor Jason Ronning said his main concern was Gill’s minimizing of his conduct in the incident. “He talked about role playing and said he made a poor decision to continue role playing,” Ronning said. “He admitted to sending inappropriate pictures and videos to 14 to 18 year old …He said it’s an addiction and nothing physical happened.”

      Defense attorney Robert Drake said that Gill had already served over three months in prison which is at the top end of his sentencing guidelines. He said it is also a significant punishment to have to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

      “He’s going to have to learn how to navigate the sex offender registry which is no mean feat itself,” Drake said. “He will be punished for 25 years, it will impact getting the job he wants, to live where he wants and to travel … Registration is for a long time, it’s onerous. It is in itself an additional punishment.”

      Gill apologized to his family, the court and the community for his poor choices. “I will continue to make amends to those I’ve hurt,” he said. “I will strive to find my path and right my wrongs. I hope with time I may be forgiven as I try to forgive myself.”

      Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman spoke a little about Boopac’s Promise which he noted had led to the successful prosecution of hundreds of adults around the country.

      “You’re 38 years old, you need to thank your lucky stars that she had done this before you had actual contact with a minor,” Judge Herman said “You could have faced 25 years in prison if you had taken it one step farther. You’re also lucky that you have only one misdemeanor on your record so your guidelines are low.”

      “I’d change my ways or you’ll find out what they do to pedophiles in prison,” the judge added. “You were in a relationship at the time of this incident and you also have a 10 year old daughter. How would you like a grown pervert asking your daughter the color of her panties or sending videos?”