A former Fayetteville man was convicted Wednesday afternoon of raping and molesting the 15-year-old daughter of his former girlfriend at the north Fayette home they shared.

Michael L. Northern, 47, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Superior Court Judge Paschal A. English. Each juror was polled to insure their verdict was indeed guilty, and one juror admitted that it was "difficult" for her to reach the verdict but yes, she too had decided he was guilty.

The victim, now 16 and a student at FCHS, testified with little emotion Monday that Northern was having sex with her in her bedroom when her mother opened the door to check on her March 1. A nurse testified that a physical exam of the victim immediately after the incident showed evidence that intercourse had taken place.

District Attorney Scott Ballard noted it was unusual to have medical evidence in a statutory rape case.

Northern took the stand in his own defense, denying that he had sex with the victim and saying he entered her room while she was asleep to cover up her legs, which had come loose from her covers.

The victim testified that this wasn't the first time Northern had sex with her and she had tried unsuccessfully to indirectly tell her mother of his advances.