JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 69-year-old Opdyke man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after he was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

In September, James Martin Sr. filed an open plea of guilty to one of three Class X counts of sexually assaulting a victim under the age of 13 in exchange for the other two counts being dismissed.

According to Mt. Vernon Police Chief Trent Page, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department initially took a report on March 11 of a sexual assault that allegedly took place in Mt. Vernon.

That information was forwarded to the Mt. Vernon Police Department and their Detective Division investigated the report. It’s believed the assault took place six to seven years ago, said Chief Page.

Assistant State’s Attorney Julie Kozuszek prosecuted the case.