A five-time felon was sentenced Friday to 100 years to life in prison for having sex with a 13-year-old girl from Schenectady County.

Joshua Hodgson, 43, of Mayfield, was found guilty by a jury of 20 felonies and three misdemeanors stemming from a summerlong relationship he had with the girl. In addition to sex acts, Hodgson convinced the girl to send him explicit videos, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.  

Hodgson was a longtime friend of the child’s father, who had given him a place to live and got him a job. Hodgson groomed the child during and continued the online sexual relationship until Sept. 15, 2021, when the child told her family and police about what was happening, according to prosecutors.  

Hodgson denied that the relationship was sexual and sent the family threatening messages demanding that they return a sterling silver chain cross necklace he gave to her as a gift.

Acting Schenectady County Court Judge Mark Caruso called Hodgson a “persistent menace to society,” and the victim’s grandmother called him a “predator,” and a “monster,” prosecutors said.

Hodgson told the court that he was the “victim” in this case and had no remorse, the DA’s Office added.

Hodgson has a lengthy criminal record including four previous felony convictions for burglary, attempted burglary, grand larceny and aggravated family offense for violations of protective orders, which added up to 100 years to life in state prison.