A 28-year-old Grover, N.C., man was sentenced Monday in Cherokee County General Sessions Court to 20 years in a state prison after he pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct with a 9-year-old girl.

William McMurray, whose address is listed in court records as Blackburn Road, entered his plea before Circuit Court Judge Paul Burch, who imposed the 20-year sentence which had been negotiated between prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Assistant Solicitor Michael Morin, who prosecuted the case, told the court the sexual assault occurred on Sept. 13, 2007, at a Blacksburg home.

McMurray was an acquaintance of the young girl's family.

During the plea hearing, Morin read aloud some statements that McMurray had made to investigators. "She asked me to stop," he allegedly said of the victim's demands the day of the assault. "I didn't."

McMurray's defense attorney said McMurray was having problems with the prescription drug Xanax. McMurray is disabled and suffers from a bipolar disorder, his attorney said.

McMurray apologized in court to both the victim and her parents. Neither the young girl nor her parents addressed the court.

McMurray said he had taken three or four Xanax pills the day of the incident and said the drug, which he no longer is prescribed, affected him greatly. "When I'm on Xanax, I don't remember nothing," he told the court.

Judge Burch gave McMurray credit for 402 days time served since his arrest.

Morin said McMurray will have to serve at least 85 percent of his 20-year sentence.