An Auburn man who sexually abused a girl for five years will spend nine years in prison.
Michael C. Thorn, 36, was sentenced on charges of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a class B felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
The abuse began when the victim was 7.
Thorn will have 10 years of post-release supervision.
The victim was in court with family. She recounted her experience, having a statement for the court. Panic attacks, inability to trust adults, and becoming more irritable are all the realities the victim faces now due to Thorn’s years-long abuse.
The judge presiding over the case praised the girl’s bravery.
“I’ve seen a lot of hardened criminals, but these kinds of cases really turn my stomach,” Judge Leone said in court.
Thorn has been at the Cayuga County Jail for nearly a year.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].