ALPENA — A Hillman man accused of having sexual contact with a young girl over a period of eight years was sentenced Monday to five to 15 years in state prison after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct against a minor.

Justin Berg, 21, gave a brief statement to the court before his sentencing, stating that, while he would not admit using force when engaging in illegal sexual behavior with the minor when he was 19, he had been an adult who knew better and should have walked away from the situation on the day in February 2018 on which he acknowledges contact took place.

The victim’s mother gave a victim impact statement, telling the court about the day her daughter reported she’d been abused, with “the words that no girl should ever have to speak in her lifetime.”

The News does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Taking into consideration the defendant’s troubled background, age, and lack of extensive criminal record, and also giving heed to the victim’s desire that Berg not be sentenced overly harshly, 26th Circuit Court Judge Michael Mack sentenced Berg below the recommended guidelines of 84 to 140 months.

Berg is currently at the Alpena County Jail and will be transfered to a state prison in the coming days to serve out his sentence.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693 or jriddle@thealpenanews.com.