Convicted Rapist, 17, Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison (UPDATED)

CANTON, GA -- A 17-year-old male convicted of sexually assaulting an underage girl has been sentenced in connection to the crime occurring nearly two years ago.

Michael Stephen Perna of Canton was sentenced on July 18 to 25 years in prison, jail records show. Once he's released, he will spend the rest of his life on probation, according to the sentence imposed by Cherokee County Superior Court Judge David Cannon Jr.

A trial jury convicted Perna on March 31 on one count each of rape and aggravated child molestation. He was found not guilty on child molestation, aggravated sexual battery and false imprisonment charges.

Once he's released from prison, Perna will have to abide by various conditions of his probation, including registering as a sex offender, having no contact with the victim or her family, not using alcohol or illicit drugs, not occupying a home where alcohol or illegal drugs are present and not possessing a firearm or living in a home with a firearm. He will also be unable to access any social media or dating websites or applications. Perna will also have to follow the special guidelines related to registering as a sex offender.

Perna, who was arrested by Canton officers in October 2015, was 15 years old when he was charged in connection with the case. Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace said juveniles age 13 and older charged with rape, child molestation and a few other offenses in Georgia are "treated as adults for purpose of the criminal justice system."

Detectives launched the investigation when Northside Hospital Cherokee staff members informed authorities about the assault after the victim told them what happened, said Canton police spokesperson Pacer Cordry.

Perna, who Cordry said is the brother of the victim's friend, raped the victim, who was 10 years old at the time, at his home while she was visiting a friend, he added. The 17-year-old was later indicted by a Cherokee County grand jury on the five original charges.

Image via Cherokee County Adult Detention Center