MARION COUNTY — A 35-year-old Altamont man was sentenced Tuesday in Marion County Court to 25-years in prison for sexually assaulting a child.

A Marion County Jury had found Mark Redfern guilty in February of Class X felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

Judge Mark Stedelin sentenced Redfern Tuesday to 25-years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. While Redfern did not give a statement of allocution before the sentencing, he did file a notice after the sentence was handed down that he intends to appeal his convicion. An appellate defender has been appointed to represent him.

In addition to the 25-year prison sentence, Redfern will have to serve 3-years to life on parole. He will also have to register for life as a sexual predator.

Redfern’s now five year old victim testified during trial via closed circuit TV about the abuse, her now 16-year-old sister also testified about abuse she allegedly suffered when she was 7- to 9-years-old.

The jury, who had deliberated for 5-hours before handing down a verdict, found Redfern not guilty of a second charge against him of Class 2 felony aggravated sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 13.

Upon the guilty verdict, Redfern’s bail was revoked, and he has remained in custody of the Marion County Jail since that time.