Published on August 19, 2025 4:25 pm
Last Updated on August 19, 2025 4:26 pm
A local man has been sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
44-year-old Jason W. Jones of Effingham was arrested in December of 2023. Jones was arrested by Effingham City Police in late November 2023 after a report of an alleged sexual abuse.
Jones was earlier charged with Class X felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault to a child. Those counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
City police discovered multiple reported victims during the initial investigation and continued exploring those leads throughout the case.
Retired City Police Chief Jason McFarland said at the time of Jones’ arrest, “I want to commend our department and officers working on this case. These are never easy cases for the victims, our community, or the investigating officers. The dedication, skill, and teamwork of all those involved have once again demonstrated the highest standards of law enforcement.”
