Published on December 30, 2025 1:38 pm
Last Updated on December 30, 2025 1:38 pm
A Newton resident has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on a charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
32-year-old Carl Cornett was arrested in August following an investigation that involved Jasper and Fayette County authorities. Fayette County and St. Elmo police officers responded to an address on Cherokee Strip in Brownstown in September. Authorities were seeking Cornett, who was wanted out of Jasper County on an original charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
Fayette County deputies made entry into a residence where Cornett was located in the crawl space of the residence. Cornett was taken to Fayette County Jail, then was transferred to Jasper County Jail, where he was ordered held without release.
In addition to the 10-year prison sentence, Cornett will serve two years’ mandatory supervised release once out of prison. Five other felony counts against Cornett were dismissed as part of the plea. He was also given credit for 121 days served while awaiting disposition of his case.
