Aurora man gets 15 years for sex assault

An Aurora man was sentenced to prison Wednesday for sexually assaulting a young child he knew, the Kane County State's Attorney's office said.

Brandon M. Niford, 30, of the 400 block of Plum Street, was convicted in May by a Kane County jury for engaging in an act of sexual penetration between 2007 and 2010 with a victim younger than 13 years old, the state's attorney's office said in a release.

On Wednesday, Kane County Judge Karen Simpson sentenced Niford to 15 years in prison. He'll serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, according to law, and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

“We are grateful for the courage this victim showed in coming forward,” Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement. “Her willingness to report this assault and testify prevented Mr. Niford from preying on other children.”