A Rock County family extends grace and forgiveness to a Janesville man convicted of raping their 9-year-old boy at a Janesville park.

Rock County Judge Barbara McCrory sentenced 20-year-old Dakota Potts to six years in prison followed by nine years of extended supervision Thursday after he pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault of a child.

Assistant District Attorney Rich Sullivan said the victim’s family was among the most gracious he’s seen in his two decades as a prosecutor.

Potts was diagnosed with Autism and Tourette’s syndrome, and a pre-sentencing evaluation determined he was an above-average risk to re-offend.

Sullivan and others in the courtroom called the victim a “hero” for coming forward about the sexual assaults and working through the trauma in therapy.