A former Corrections officer of 15 years who also has worked for the Department of Natural Resources is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

According to WOOD, an Ionia Michigan man by the name of Troy Allen Hopkins pleaded no contest Tuesday to first degree criminal sexual conduct, possession of child pornography and using a computer to commit a crime.

According to police, Hopkins spent several months grooming the girl by trading thousands of online messages and giving the young girl gifts. He was a trusted acquaintance of the family which he knew for several years along with the girl.

Hopkins allegedly assaulted the young girl for several months that started in September of 2018 which led to an arrest in March of 2019.

Hopkins is still waiting to be sentenced as of Thursday.

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