Leader Publications

A Niles man who molested a 9-year-old girl at a school health fair went to prison Monday.

Berrien County Trial Court Judge Dennis Wiley gave Leslie Wayne Anthony, 46, of 317 N. 7th St., 86 to 180 months in prison for second-degree criminal sexual conduct under 13 and indecent exposure by a sexually delinquent person on June 6 at Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1105 Grant St.

Anthony, credited for 63 days spent in jail, was ordered to pay $2,036, including a $500 fine.

Assistant Prosecutor Cara Wilkinson said it’s obvious Anthony will never be able to conform. Given the likelihood he will re-offend, the community needs protection from him.

The defendant apologized for his behavior and said he hoped anybody he hurt will be OK.

“No child out there is safe from you,” said Wiley, point to a record “replete with deviant offenses. I can sympathize to some extent, but it’s no excuse to turn yourself loose on other children to be traumatized. It’s got to stop somewhere. We must incapacitate you because you cannot control yourself.”