Livingston County man sentenced to 135 years in prison for sexually molesting a child

Posted on December 22, 2021
Cory Melvin, 35, was sentenced to prison on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy: HOI/ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A Livingston County man has been sentenced to 135 years behind bars for sexually assaulting a young girl over a three-year period.

Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak said he not only wanted Cory Melvin, 35, to spend the rest of his life in prison, but also for the rest of the victim’s life so she won’t feel threatened again by Melvin.

The girl is 11 years old and the prosecutor said she was “very brave” when she testified at Melvin’s two-day bench trial in late October.

Judge Jennifer Baucknecht found Melvin guilty on five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor younger than 13.

Yedinak said the crimes happened between May of 2017 to May of 2020 in Pontiac and Odell.

Yedinak recommended 30 years in prison on each count, or 150 years. The judge decided on five consecutive 27 year prison terms, or 135 years.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].

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