JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 51-year-old Mt. Vernon man was sentenced Tuesday in Jefferson County court to 15-years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a victim under the age of 13.

Lloyd E. Latchford was charged in June with Class X felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13. He has been held in the Jefferson County Jail with bail set at $500,000.

Latchford had pleaded not guilty following his arrest and demanded a jury trial.

However, in July the court ruled that an exception would be given on the hearsay rule and that a closed circuit video recording of an Amy Center interview would be allowed.

Then last month hearings and a jury trial setting were vacated and a possible plea deal was scheduled for September 4, at which time he entered into the agreement with the state.