A 75-year-old Jones resident will serve 300 days in the Cass County jail for carrying on an illicit affair with a 15-year-old girl.

Walter Anglemyer was sentenced to the jail term and five years probation in Cass County Circuit Court Friday for the charge of criminal sexual conduct by Judge Michael Dodge. Anglemyer pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 21.

According to the court, the charge stems from a series of sexual encounters Anglemyer had with the victim over the course of several months last fall. Anglemyer lived on the campground managed by the victim’s mother and befriended the minor before escalating the relationship.

“You became a counselor [to the victim] and then you became much more,” Dodge said. “You sexually exploited her on multiple occasions for your own pleasure.”

The elderly man, who was affectionately called “grandpa” by many who knew him at the campsite, acted as a mentor figure for the victim prior the sexual acts, according to the prosecution.

“What a dereliction of duty this defendant perpetrated in this situation,” said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. “Being an adult, being a grandfather, that’s what he should have been. Instead, he gave the term ‘sunset, sunrise’ relationship a whole new meaning.”

The 15 year-old had suffered from psychological issues before meeting Anglemyer, which have only exacerbated since, Fitz said.

“At age 75, he was too old not to know that this was terribly, terribly wrong,” Fitz said.

Anglemyer had a clean criminal record prior to his arrest, said his defense attorney, Jason Ronning.

“Mr. Anglemyer has been with us approximately 27,375 days, and never broken the law,” Ronning said.

Ronning also read a statement that his client prepared in advance of the hearing.

“I’m very sorry, and I take full responsibility for the actions that I did not take as well as the actions that I did,” the statement read. “I’m truly sorry for all the hurt this has caused to everyone involved.”

Anglemyer was given two days credit for time served.

Also sentenced Friday:

• Stephen Simpson, 43, of Dowagiac, to three years probation for meth related charges.

• Jason Klodzinski, 39, of Edwardsburg, to 120 days in jail and three years probation for possession of meth.

• Chad Jacobs, 21, of Dowagiac, to three years and 10 months of probation for failing to register his phone with the sex offender registry.

• Earl Farrington, 53, of Marcellus, to three years probation for drug related charges.

• Rodolfo Rosales, 28, of Sodus, to 30 days in jail for possession of cocaine.

• Ahmet Sapmaz, 57, of Edwardsburg, to 30 days in jail and one year probation for operating while impaired and unlawful use of registration plates.