TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man accused of kidnapping and raping a 5-year-old girl has been sentenced to nearly 44 years in prison.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports 21-year-old Al’Ryon Perkins was also sentenced Tuesday to 3 years of post-release supervision.

Perkins pleaded guilty in September to several charges including aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14 and two counts of aggravated burglary. He denied kidnapping and raping the victim in a statement Tuesday.

Authorities say Perkins broke into a residence in 2010 to steal marijuana, but took a cash box instead and then returned to carry a child outside, where he sexually assaulted her. Perkins was 17 at the time, but the case was moved from juvenile court because of the nature of the crime.