An Elkhart County man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of child molestation. 

Armando Reyes was found guilty following a jury trial after evidence showed he molested the child of a close family friend while babysitting in August of 2023.

Court records indicate he failed to appear for trial and later had to be extradited back to Indiana from California. During sentencing, the judge imposed an aggravated 12-year sentence.

The Goshen News says Reyes plans to appeal the conviction, but the court ruled he has sufficient assets to hire his own attorney.