MUSKEGON, MI - An apparent "furry fandom" enthusiast who dresses up as a cartoon character has been sentenced to prison for no less than 25 years to 40 years.

Kyle Damiean Kerbersky

Kyle Damiean Kerbersky, 29, of Kentwood was sentenced by Muskegon County Circuit Judge William Marietti on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Marietti also ordered Kerbersky to undergo lifetime monitoring.

He was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct on Aug. 22 following a jury trial in Muskegon County Circuit Court. The charge is punishable by up to life in prison.

Kerbersky was accused of repeatedly raping the child in 2015, according to the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office.

Police began investigating Kerbersky after receiving a tip from Child Protective Services.

The prosecutor's office agreed to dismiss without prejudice an additional charge of lying to police.

On Tuesday, before Maritetti read his sentence, Kerbersky looked back at family members and whispered, "It's going to be OK."

When Marietti asked if Kerbersky would like to make a statement, he pointed to a letter he sent to the court and said nothing more.

Shawn Haff, Kerbersky's attorney, said that his client has a limited criminal history and deep mental health issues, which his client is working on.

Muskegon County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Mary Farrell said Kerbersky's crime was among "the most heinous crime we can deal with here."

"The defendant did not take accountability for his actions," Farrell said. "He wrote out several confessions, but did not take responsibility for his crime when filed his plea."

The victim of the crime Farrell continued, has been dealing with the trauma following the incident, but has made, according to his grandmother, "a complete turnaround."

The victim is on track to be released from a health services facility for children and feels "vindicated" by Kerbersky's guilty verdict, Farrell added.

On his Facebook page and Twitter account, Kerbersky identifies himself as "Lavadog Ashpaw," and uses an avatar of a dire wolf as his profile picture.

Lavadog Ashpaw posted a video on YouTube of a parade of "furry" enthusiasts at the Great Lakes Fur Con - a convention of furry enthusiasts held in Holland.

Furry fandom is defined by Wikipedia as "a subculture interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. They often dress as "furries" depicting their "fursonas" in animal costumes called "fursuits."

Prior to his trial, Kerbersky received a psychiatric evaluation at the request of his attorney. He was found competent to stand trial.