A 43-year-old man has pleaded guilty to raping a young child.

William Samuel Crawford, of Hayden, entered his guilty plea on Feb. 20, the Cullman County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison.

Crawford was indicted in 2022 on the felony charge of first-degree rape of a child under the age of 12.

Asked if he had anything to say when entering his plea, Crawford said, “I’m sorry,’’ court records show.

The victim and family members were given the opportunity to make victim impact statements at sentencing, said District Attorney Champ Crocker.

“Our victim wanted a resolution and punishment for the defendant. We were prepared for trial, but the defendant changed his plea to guilty,’’ Crocker said. ‘Hopefully this 75-year sentence will guarantee this man will never harm another child.”