BENTON – A Benton man was sentenced Thursday in Franklin County Court to 47 years in prison for one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child – a Class X felony.

According to Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn, on July 5 of last year, 35-year-old Robert B. Hodges committed an act of sexual penetration on a 5 year old child. The child’s mother reported the crime to law enforcement and an investigation quickly began.

Hodges was charged with the offense on July 11 of last year. He was arrested and has remained in the Franklin County Jail since his arrest.

On Feb. 21 of this year, Hodges entered a plea of guilty to the offense. He will be required to serve a minimum of 85% of his sentence and is not eligible for day-for-day credit. His sentence will be followed by up to 3 years of mandatory supervised release, formerly known as parole.

Upon release, Hodges will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The case was investigated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police Metro-East Forensics Laboratory, and the Franklin Williamson Child Advocacy Center.