An Atmore man will spend the next ten years behind bars after being convicted of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.

Alphonzia People was sentenced to a decade in prison by Escambia County judge Burt Rice Friday.

People, 44, was arrested in 2010 after investigators with the Atmore Police Department turned over  information to a grand jury.

APD Investigator Robby Williams said he presented the evidence in December of 2010 and the grand jury returned an indictment.

“We were notified of the situation by DHR, “ Williams said. “We picked up the investigation from there.”

Williams said the charges stem from incidents involving People’s daughter, who was five-years-old at the time, occurring between June and August of 2010.

People will be eligible for parole during his time in prison, but has been ordered to have no further contact with the victim or the victim’s family.