A 22-year-old Washington C.H. man who pleaded guilty to the rape of a 13-year-old girl has been sent to prison for four years.

Michael A. Toney, formerly of 704 S. Main St., was also designated as a Tier III registered sex offender, the most severe sex offender designation in the state of Ohio, during his plea and sentencing hearing on Feb. 1 in Fayette County Common Pleas Court. As part of a plea agreement with the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office, Toney pleaded guilty to first-degree felony rape, resulting in the mandatory four-year prison sentence.

“The victim’s family was satisfied with our agreement and the punishment,” said Fayette County Prosecutor Jess Weade.

Toney sexually assaulted the girl at his home on Nov. 8, 2015. After the incident was reported to the Washington C.H. Police Department by the victim’s mother, Toney allegedly admitted to the rape during an interview with officers.

After they are released from prison, Tier III sex offenders must register with the county sheriff every 90 days for life. In addition, they must register any change of residential address, place of employment, or enrollment in a school or institution of higher education.

They are also subject to community notification, which means upon a change of residential address, the county sheriff will provide notice to a neighborhood within 1,250 feet of the sex offender’s residential address. The county sheriff will also provide notice to schools, registered day-care providers, and law enforcement agencies within the 1,250-foot radius.