GOSHEN -- A Chicago man who skipped out on his trial last month got two-and-a-half centuries worth of reasons to stay away Thursday.

Judge George Biddlecome sentenced Roberto Vasquez to 247 years in prison on 11 felony charges in Elkhart Superior Court 3.

Nine of the charges were for molesting a girl, and the other two were for providing harmful materials -- pornography -- to the same girl. All of the events happened over a five-year period.

Vasquez, 53, of 5951 S. Sacramento St., Chicago, attended the start of his trial last month, but after the testimony, he didn't show up for the final day and the jury's verdict.

The victim, now 15, took the stand during the trial and testified, "I don't want him to see that he ruined my life because he didn't. He just made me stronger."

In addition to facing centuries in prison, Vasquez's flight meant he lost the money he posted for the $300,000 bond. If he stays free for another four weeks, he'll also miss the chance to appeal the extraordinary sentence.

Biddlecome ruled that Vasquez's crimes qualified him for consecutive sentences on each charge, a ruling the prosecutor's office praised.

The prosecutor's office asked that anyone with information on Vasquez's location call Elkhart police at 295-7070 or the Elkhart County dispatch center at 533-8644.