A 31-year-old man convicted sex offender was sentenced to 80 years in prison for filming himself sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.

Erik McDaugale of Aurora was sentenced last week in the 18th Judicial District Court by Judge Darren Vahle after pleading guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a child in October. 

“Crimes against children are some of the most difficult cases we prosecute,” said District Attorney John Kellner. “These are trusting victims, who often don’t understand the crimes being committed and don’t know to seek help. The predators in our communities target them for those reasons, and we have to take measures to keep those predators away from our kids.”

McDaugale was previously convicted for child sexual assault charges, prosecutors said.

The Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in spring 2019 of child pornography, officials said.

The Aurora Police Department traced the explicit videos and images to McDaugale, who was living in the basement of an acquaintance, and at the time had an active warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. 

Police said he was sexually assaulting the girl at the residence and shared videos and photos of the assault online. 

“There is no sentence harsh enough for any of these actions in singularity, much less for all of these actions taken together,” said Deputy District Attorney James Bornhoft, who prosecuted the case. “All I can say is this plea agreement will make sure that this defendant doesn’t step foot in society again.”