The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the Greene County District Court’s verdict on James Exline Thursday.

Court documents show the 49-year-old Jefferson man filed an appeal to the state after two 2018 jury trials, the first ending in a mistrial, found him guilty of a class B and class C felony for second degree and third degree sexual abuse of his then 12-year-old daughter Paige Exline. Paige died in a fire with her cousin, 16-year-old Shakiah Cockerham, which was started by her stepbrother Patrick Thompson. Thompson was sentenced to life in prison for attempted murder and arson in October 2018. Paige was also sexually abused by her brother 22-year-old Noah Exline, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years probation.

James was sentenced in August 2018 to serve up to 75 years in prison. In the appeal, Exline argued the district court abused its discretion in allowing the jury to hear that the child died, erred in admitting hearsay evidence, and abused its discretion in denying his motion to postpone the second trial. The Iowa Court of Appeals affirms that Exline received a fair trial, and his sentence stands. He will be eligible for parole once he has served 85 percent of his sentence, or about 64 years from the date of his conviction. To read the full opinion from the Court of Appeals, click here.