SIDNEY — A Sidney man got the maximum prison time and will have to be registered as a sexual offender for the rest of his life, after appearing in Shelby County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on Tuesday.

Joseph O. Earick, 42, of Sidney, was sentenced to serve a mandatory 11 years in prison for one count of rape, a felony of the first degree.

Earick was originally indicted in October 2015 on a count of rape that would have almost guaranteed him life in prison, Judge James Stevenson said Tuesday. Through the work of his attorney, Andrew Venters, and Shelby County Prosecutor Tim Sell, the charge was lowered to one that required a maximum prison sentence of 11 years.

The charge was for engaging in sexual intercourse with a female child of 11-years-old.

Earick expressed sympathy for his actions in court Tuesday, apologizing to the victim’s family and his own.

Sell said Earick made comments to probation officials blaming the child and the child’s family for his actions.

Venters said Earick cooperated with the investigation and has no previous convictions.

Stevenson took into consideration the age of the victim and alleged grooming of the child before the act.

In addition to the 11 years in prison he will be ordered to complete a mandatory of five years community control and will have to be registered as a sexual offender for the rest of his life. Also, he will not be eligible for early release from prison.