XENIA — An area man will spend 15 years to life in prison after a Greene County jury found him guilty of the rape of a child under 13.

Steven Blackson, 40, was arrested in January after a student came forward with the accusations. Testimony revealed that the alleged abuse happened over a span of five years in Fairborn and Dayton.

Blackson was convicted of the first-degree felony as well as sexual battery, a third-degree felony, as a result of the trial in August. The jury could not reach a verdict on a second count of rape, which assistant prosecutor Cheri Stout asked the court to dismiss at the final disposition and sentencing hearing held Oct. 30. The state also dismissed a second count of sexual battery before the trial began.

According to Stout, Blackson has a criminal history. Stout said that he was convicted in 1996 for breaking and entering, 2003 for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and 2011 and 2013 for failing to register as a sex offender. At the hearing, she asked the court to impose maximum consecutive sentences.

“Given Mr. Blackson’s age, I think the 10 to life sentence is more than adequate,” defense attorney Christ Theodor said in response.

According to Judge Stephen Wolaver, the first-degree felony carries a mandatory prison term. Wolaver sentenced Blackson to an indefinite period of 10 years to life for rape, and an indefinite period of five years for sexual battery, to be served consecutively.

“… consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender,” Wolaver said.

Blackson may be eligible for post-release control for the five-year term and may be under direction of the parole board if released prior to serving a life sentence, the judge continued.

Wolaver explained that because the convictions are sexually-oriented offenses, Blackson is considered a Tier III offender and must register as a sex offender with the county of residence within three days of release and then every 90 days.

Blackson is entitled to 295 days jail time credit, according to Wolaver. The defendant was held in the Greene County Jail on a $100,000 bond and will be transferred to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.