BENTON, Ill. -- A Christopher man was found guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child on Thursday morning.
The Franklin County State's Attorney Abigail D. Dinn said a jury of 12 citizens in Franklin County deliberated and convicted Douglas L. Carpenter, 73 of Christopher, of the sexual assault charge.
Dinn said the incident happened on December 19, 2020, when Carpenter sexually assaulted a child in Christopher. Afterwards, the child immediately told their mother about the abuse, along with telling police departments in Herrin, Christopher and the Franklin Williamson Child Advocacy Center.
Douglas was then arrested and taken to the Franklin County Jail where he was charged with the predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
The jury trial began on October 2, 2023 which resulted in Carpenter being convicted of the charge.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
