An Enfield man will spend up to the next 5 and a half years behind bars following his sentencing Thursday afternoon. State’s Attorney Denton Aud says the contested sentencing hearing lasted a few hours. 36 year old Matthew J. Nolan was convicted of a class 2 felony of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse back on September 30th of last year. The crime was found to have included sexual conduct with a family member under the age of 18 and happened in late November of 2019.
State’s Attorney Aud added, “As I stated during the sentencing hearing, even though those in control of both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly continue to seem dedicated to take Illinois down a path that is detrimental to public safety and prevents justice for victims, White County will still do what we can under the everchanging laws and the available evidence to protect the public and seek justice for those who have been seriously wronged, such as the courageous victim in this case.”
Under the law, Aud says a class 2 felony has a possible sentencing range of 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections or up to 4 years of probation depending on what the judge decides. Aud went on to say at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, Judge T. Scott Webb rejected the defendant’s argument for a sentence of probation and agreed with Aud’s argument that, having regard to the nature and circumstance of the offense and the history, character, and condition of the offender, a sentenced to the IDOC was appropriate for the protection of the public and that a sentence of simply probation would undercut the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.
Two class 1 felony charges of Criminal Sexual Assault of a Family Member under the age of 18 were dismissed as per the plea deal. In addition to the jail sentence, Nolan will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Aud prosecuted. Attorney Aaron Hopkins of West Frankfort represented Nolan. The White County Sheriff’s Department handled the investigation.
