A Cass County jury took merely 25 minutes to find an Edwardsburg man guilty — who now faces a mandatory 25-year stint in prison — this week for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl, according to the Cass County prosecutor’s office.

George Hanson, 67, was convicted on five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct following his trial at Cass County Court, which began on Tuesday morning and wrapped up Wednesday afternoon. Hanson is scheduled to appear before Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, for sentencing.

Hanson was found guilty for repeatedly sexually violating a child in her home in the Michiana area in 2007. The victim, who is now 19 years old, took the stand during Hanson’s trial and recalled her adolescent nightmare to the jury as tears ran silently down her cheek, prosecutors said.

The jury also heard from nine other prosecution witnesses, who explained the tragic circumstances surrounding the trauma, including the victim’s mother, other family members, childhood friends, expert witnesses, police officers and others who corroborated facts supportive of the adolescent assault. Investigating officers from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police also testified.

The defendant did not take the stand.

During closing arguments mid-afternoon on Wednesday, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle passionately recalled the trembling testimony of the victim and the devastating impact the defendant’s predatory behavior has had on her — including a long-term inability to sleep and routine flashbacks to the attacks.

“The defendant’s days of sexual corruption are over,” said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. “This verdict assures a mandatory 25-year sentence. His first chance at parole will be at age 93.”