CASSOPOLIS — A Cassopolis man who still maintains his innocence was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison after being convicted last month of sexually molesting a young girl more than two decades ago.

James Lee McNeil, 74, of Kelsey Lake Street in Cassopolis, was convicted by a Cass County Circuit Court jury Dec. 5 of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Friday, he was sentenced to three concurrent terms of 25 years to 60 years in prison and was ordered to pay $1,048. He has credit for 31 days already served.

Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman ordered that McNeil register as a sex offender, be on mandatory lifetime electronic monitoring, be tested for HIV/AIDS, have no contact with the victim or anyone under age 17 and not use any computer or device able to be connected with the internet.

The sexual assaults on the victim occurred between 1992 and 1995 at a home in Dowagiac and started when the girl was five or six years old. The victim, now 29, was one of six women who testified that McNeil groomed and molested them while he was acting as their “babysitter.”

McNeil had previously been convicted in 1999 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for incidents occurring in 1989 and was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.

“It was clear from the evidence presented at trial that he is a rapist who committed one of the most evil acts,” said Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Hubbert. “He has been convicted of this before and likely sexually assaulted more children than we know. This was an absolutely heinous thing that he’s done.

“He has absolutely earned a very significant prison sentence,” he added. “He’s in poor health now, but he wasn’t when he raped his victims.”

Hubbert thanked the courage of the victims who testified.

“So many people are dealing with the impact of his actions,” he said. “I hope this justice will allow for the healing of the victims and the community. He has caused so much damage and had an absolutely horrible impact on people.”

Defense attorney Nicholas Hogue asked that McNeil’s health be taken into consideration. McNeil was brought into the courtroom Friday in a wheelchair and Hogue said he suffers from COPD and emphysema and has heart issues.

McNeil continued to maintain his innocence in his remarks.

“I didn’t do it. I did not smoke marijuana. I did not do these crimes in 1992 and 1993. I didn’t do this,” he said.

Judge Herman described the testimony provided by the victim and others as “compelling.”

“The victim has undergone 18 years of counseling and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and flashbacks,” he told McNeil. “You testified that none of this ever happened, but you couldn’t explain why these women who didn’t know each other had similar stories. … The day of reckoning has arrived for you today.”

In another sentencing, a Dowagiac man who absconded from probation last year to help his girlfriend with her substance abuse problems was sentenced to jail and had his probation revoked.

Jacob Gage Luthringer, 27, of Haines Street in Dowagiac, had his probation revoked and was sentenced to 365 days in jail with credit for 175 days already served. He had originally been sentenced to probation on July 19 for possession of meth and attempted resisting and obstructing police.

Defense attorney Gregory Feldman said Luthringer “did the wrong thing for the right reason” as he left his probation program to help his girlfriend stay sober and get treatment for her addictions.

“He has a goal of joining her in sobriety,” he said.

Judge Herman said he had seriously been thinking of sentencing Luthringer to prison but will allow him to stay in the Cass County Jail where he can get help for his drug problem.

“I’m willing to give you this opportunity, but I want you to be serious,” he said. “If you come back, I won’t forget that you weren’t serious.”

Also in court Friday:

• Samantha Brigham, 50, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics/cocaine as a habitual offender and was sentenced to two years’ probation in Adult Treatment Court, credit for 29 days already served and $1,788 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred April 21 near Redfield and Gumwood Roads outside of Edwardsburg.

• Edward Carol Soyk, 27, of Kalamazoo, pleaded guilty to possession of meth as a habitual offender and was sentenced to three years Swift and Sure probation, 210 days in jail with credit for 185 days already served and $1,908 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred July 2 in Porter Township. Police received a call of a vehicle off the road. The vehicle was reported stolen, and Soyk was later found to be in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. He also is facing unlawful driving away of an automobile in Berrien County and a bench warrant from Elkhart County.

Judge Herman noted that Soyk has five prior felony and seven prior misdemeanor convictions and has used meth since he was 15. He said he would give Soyk one last chance to turn his life around.