A South Carolina man who pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct will spend the next 20 years of his life behind bars after he admitted to sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl and giving her a sexually transmitted disease.

According to WYFF 4 News, the crimes were reported to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office in July 2011 when the little girl’s mother took her to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment of an STD.

The girl later described the assaults in detail during a forensic examination, and she identified her attacker an 18-year-old Brandon Harley Eaton. She said the assaults happened at homes in Spartanburg, as well as the city of Greenwood, where Eaton is from.

Though Eaton faced a maximum of 30 years in prison, a judge showed a bit of mercy, giving him only 20 years. He must serve at least 80 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole, and he’ll also be required to enter his name into the Sex Offender Registry.

“This little girl is living proof that a child who is loved and supported by her family can withstand almost anything,” Assistant Solicitor Susan Reese said. “Her mother asked the judge to help give her daughter some peace, and I believe he did.”

Mugshot via WSPA