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A 25-year-old Inver Grove Heights man was sentenced to three years in prison on Oct. 31 after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual contact with his 7-year-old niece. 

However, Max Alfonso Miranda-Rivera was effectively given probation after a Dakota County judge stayed the imposition of the sentence for 25 years and allowed work release for the final 90 days of his local confinement.

Miranda-Rivera was also ordered to attend sex offender treatment for an indeterminate amount of time and pay restitution to the victim and her family.

Among the other conditions of his sentence, Miranda-Rivera was ordered to comply with periodic ploygraph exams and random analyses of his computer and internet access. He is required to register as a sex offender and refrain from the use of alcohol and drugs for the duration of his probation.  

Miranda-Rivera was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct on Aug. 3 after his niece told social workers that her uncle touched her body with his hands in a sexual way on at least three occasions and used his penis on a fourth occasion.

Patch does not disclose the names or any identifying characteristics of victims or alleged victims of sexual assault. 

The victim's older sister told social workers that the young girl told her identical accounts of the incidents.

At no time did Miranda-Rivera dispute the claims of either of his nieces.