A Syracuse man will serve 16 years in prison for molesting a child.

Thomas Books III, 34, was charged with felony child molesting in a plea agreement.

Last November, police say a witness saw Books inappropriately interacting with a child. Books admitted to the crime. The 16-year sentence is the maximum amount of time a defendant in the state of Indiana can receive for a Level 3 felony.

The judge said the sentence was appropriate due to the nature of the offense and the harm to the child.