BENTON – A Christopher man was sentenced late Thursday afternoon to 41 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child.

Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn says on Oct. 5, 2023, a jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty for 73-year-old Douglas Carpenter after Dinn presented evidence that Carpenter committed an act of sexual contact with a 10-year-old family member for the purposes of sexual gratification or arousal during December of 2020.

The case was investigated by the Christopher Police Department, Herrin Police Department, and the Franklin Williamson Child Advocacy Center.

The case was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Abby Dinn.