A 40-year-old man who plead no contest to multiple counts of sexual assault and was a substitute band teacher on Maui was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison Friday.

Circuit Court Judge Rhondo Loo handed down the sentence after Jim Alan Balicanta took a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The parole board will establish the minimum Balicanta must serve.

Balicanta was charged with eight counts of first-degree sexual assault and eight counts of third-degree sexual assault.

The accused assaults occurred over a three-year period.  His victim, a girl who attended Iao Intermediate School, was in the 8th grade when the abuse started.

First Deputy Prosecutor Robert Rivera says she is still suffering psychologically and physically.

Balicanta apologized before the court during his sentencing proceedings.

Balicanta has been held at the Maui Community Correctional Center since his arrest in April.