MARION COUNTY — Marion County Resident Judge Mark Stedelin found a 49-year-old Centralia man guilty of sexually assaulting a child, after hearing the case earlier this month in a one-day bench trial. Carl Privatt was arrested and charged in January with Class X felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13.
He and his public defender agreed last month to have the case tried by a judge rather than a jury.
On May 10th, Judge Stedelin heard testimony from multiple witnesses, including Centralia police officers.
After both prosecution and defense presented their cases, Judge Stedelin said he would take the case under advisement and scheduled a May 21st status hearing.
Privatt remains in the Marion County Jail where he is now held without bond. The case is set for sentencing July 16th. Defense and prosecution had earlier agreed to cap any sentence at 30 years in prison if Privatt was found guilty.