Mattoon Man Gets 27 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault of Child

A Mattoon man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison on a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

38-year-old Jose Antemate-Chagala was arrested in July of 2020. Prosecutors said Antemate-Chagala resided within a home where a girl under the age of 10 also lived, and that he repeatedly molested the girl over a two-month period.

The US Department of Homeland Security indicated at the time of the arrest that Antemate-Chagala is an illegal alien who has been previously deported. He was arrested at the time by Homeland Security for immigration violations, and was informed at Thursday's sentencing hearing of possible deportation penalties.