The former owner of a coffee shop in St. Paul was sentenced to 12 years in prison for criminal sexual misconduct.

Eduardo Delariva-Larios, 46, pleaded guilty in May to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl last summer who used to work for him.

Delariva-Larios’ attorney asked the judge for a departure, hoping for a lesser sentence.

However, the judge disagreed and sentenced him on Wednesday to 12 years. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

“You haven’t shown any empathy for the victim. Sex offenders I’ve seen before think they’ve done nothing wrong, but there is no excuse for your behavior,” Judge Judith Tilsen said to Delariva-Larios at the sentencing.

On July 7, 2018, the teen told police she was working with Delariva-Larios at the coffee shop when he asked her if she had a boyfriend. The conversation then turned sexual, making her uncomfortable, and Delariva-Larios then followed her to the back room of the coffee shop and sexually assaulted her.

Delariva-Larios initially denied any misconduct but later admitted that he had sexual relations with the teen, authorities say. He said it happened after the girl accepted his offer to learn more about her body. He said he apologized to the teen after the assault occurred because he knew it was wrong.

He also was convicted in 2008 of soliciting, inducing and promoting prostitution in Hennepin County.

The prosecuting attorney read aloud a letter from the victim’s mother and grandmother at the sentencing. The letters said that the teen used to be a straight-A student, but has been depressed and anxiety-ridden since the assault and has tried to kill herself multiple times.

“I only hope the person responsible gets the sentence he deserves and pays for what he has done. I never want to see another girl suffering … This has ripped away the dreams of our whole family,” the letter from the victim’s grandmother read.