WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – A Warren man who was found guilty of raping a young relative was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Rick Benchea, 61, received the maximum sentence because of the victim’s age. The girl was between 7 and 11 years old at the time of the assaults. Prosecutors said none of this would have been possible without the victim coming forward and saying enough is enough.

“People will believe you, no matter what the person touching you or hurting you has said to you, people will believe you. They are lying. That comes from the pit of hell, that is a lie. People will believe you,” the victim’s mother said.

The victim’s mother said her daughter put an end to Benchea’s reign of terror in order to help her little sister and others.

“I just have a really sick feeling that he has done this to more people. I know the last time it was on the news, a little girl came forward and said he had hurt them as well,” the victim’s mother said.

Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman said Benchea deserved the maximum sentence. He was found guilty last month on 12 counts of rape and four counts of gross sexual imposition.

“I am just very relieved that he won’t have the opportunity to hurt another little girl,” Wildman said. “He is a predator, plain and simple. He preyed upon a child, a 7-year-old. He used a position of trust and he abused that trust and I hope he rots in prison.”

Benchea’s attorney said they are already planning to appeal.