A 41-year-old St. Joseph man was sentenced this week for statutory rape.

Manuel Ramos-Velasquez pleaded guilty in April to one count of statutory rape, a class-c felony.  The girl was under the age of 17 when the pair had intercourse “…on or around December 25th, 2015 to New Years, January 1, 2016.”

Police said in a court affidavit that the defendant posed a danger to the victim, because he wanted to make sure that she has “continued with her education.”

On Thursday, Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg imposed a five-year prison term.