News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Defendant Dustin Haske and Defense Attorney Nicole Blank Becker are pictured in the 26th Circuit Court on Wednesday.

ALPENA — Dustin Haske, 35, was sentenced to a minimum of six years in prison with a maximum of 25 years for one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of third degree criminal sexual conduct in the 26th Circuit Court on Wednesday.

He was also sentenced to a lifetime of electronic monitoring.

Haske pleaded no contest to those charges at a Nov. 17 hearing. The defense and prosecution agreed in that deal that Haske should be sentenced to six years in prison.

At Haske’s preliminary examination on June 25, the victim testified that Haske had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions when she was 14 years old.

The News does not name survivors of sexual assault without their permission.

Through numerous conversations with Haske, Defense Attorney Nicole Blank Becker said that Haske completely understands the seriousness of the offenses he committed.

He had discussed the strengths and risks of going to trial or reaching a plea deal with Becker at length.

“He has asked all the hard questions that were…appropriate to ask,” Becker said. “And ultimately he made a very deliberate and informed decision.”

Becker stated that Haske has no prior criminal record. This is his first and only incident that involved the criminal justice system, she said.

“He is a father, he has the unwavering support of family and friends who sit behind me,” Becker said. “And he also is a provider. And despite what brings him here today, he has lived an otherwise law abiding life.”

“He truly does have a good heart,” Becker said.

Becker requested that the sentencing agreement of six years in prison be followed.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Alyssa Miller also requested six years.

“One thing that I think is very disturbing about this case is that…when she was in a foster home, he was a trusted individual that she could go with,” Miller said. “He was the person that she was to still be allowed contact with despite what was going on with her parents, because it was something that they thought would be good for her therapeutically…when really he was picking her up to bring her places to have sex in his truck instead of being someone that was there for her as a caring uncle.”

Judge Ed Black sentenced Haske to six years to 25 years in prison for the charge of first degree criminal sexual conduct, and five years to 15 years for the charge of third degree criminal sexual conduct. Those sentences will be served concurrently. Haske has credit for 217 days served.

“I have never seen any crime cause more destruction in my entire life than one where you’re dealing with sexual assault…you have children literally tell you they wish they had been murdered rather than being sexually assaulted because of the damage that it does to them in dealing with the trauma in their lives,” Judge Black said.

“I hope that you move forward from this Mr. Haske,” he said. “Counsel speaks of you highly.”