BENTON – A Benton man was sentenced in Franklin County Court Wednesday afternoon to 44 years in state prison for Criminal Sexual Assault involving a family member.
Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn says on Feb. 26 of this year, a relative of 36-year-old Jesse Skaggs reported a lengthy history of sexual abuse including multiple acts of sexual penetration perpetrated on the minor by Skaggs.
Benton Police began an investigation into the disclosure and interviewed several people including Skaggs.
Skaggs admitted during his interview that he had sexually assaulted the minor over the course of several years.
Skaggs was charged March 17 with two counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and four counts of Criminal Sexual Assault. He was arrested and lodged in the Franklin County Jail. Skaggs pled guilty to the four counts of Criminal Sexual Assault on June 11.
Skaggs was sentenced to separate 11-year sentences on each of the four separate counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class 1 felony. They will be served consecutively to one another. Skaggs must serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentences. He will serve three years of mandatory supervised release following his prison term.
