Alex N. Alexander can walk away from a prison when's he's 42 for sexually assaulting and beating a 61-year-old grandmother.

Alexander, 16, of 4115 Peggy in Spaulding Township received a sentence Thursday of 26 to 75 years behind bars for three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and single counts of first-degree home invasion, torture, resisting and obstructing a police officer and possessing marijuana.

The teen, whom prosecutors charged as an adult, pleaded no contest last month. A no contest plea means a defendant does not admit guilt but will accept punishment.

Alexander told Saginaw County Circuit Judge William A. Crane he was high on ecstasy.

"I'm sorry for what I did," the teen said. "I really don't know what I did. I was under the influence of drugs."

Crane, who showed Alexander a photo of the badly beaten Spaulding Township victim, said the law doesn't excuse misconduct for intoxication.

"It's not fair to the victim," said Crane, who indicated the woman is suffering physical and emotional problems.

"We are dealing with somebody who is very dangerous," he said. "This was outrageous and horrific."

The Saginaw News does not name sexual assault victims. First-degree criminal sexual conduct

involves penetration.

Assistant Prosecutor Paul M. Fehrman said the victim is on a ventilator likely stemming from the assault; if she dies his office would view the case as a possible homicide.

Alexander told police that he knew the woman lived alone, Fehrman said.

"This is a callous young man," he said.

Saginaw defense attorney James F. Gust said his client was a good athlete and colleges were scouting him when the assault occurred. Alexander also suffered abuse as a child.

"Obviously, he was out of his mind," Gust said. "He would have been aware of that if he was in his right mind. It's very bizarre facts."

The victim testified at an earlier hearing that she was home about 10 p.m. Aug. 6 enjoying the summer night and doing a crossword puzzle when she heard noises. When she saw a hand poke through a shade, she called 911.

As she talked with a dispatcher, a man climbed through the window and said he was going to get her. She warned him that police were on their way, but he threw her on the couch, removed her pajama bottoms and sexually assaulted her three times.

She said he threatened to shoot her if she didn't comply with his demands.

As police cruisers approached her home, the woman said, the man ran outside. State Trooper Jeremy Sloan testified he saw a man leave the garage and chased him before losing track.

Sloan said he called for a canine unit, which arrived several minutes later.

Sloan said he found Alexander hiding 30 feet up in a tree wearing a black T-shirt, no bottoms and a white Ace bandage on his knee.