SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A Sangamon County jury has found a Springfield man guilty of multiple sex crimes involving a minor.
On October 9, 56-year-old Samuel L. Britz was convicted on four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Prosecutors say Britz sexually assaulted an 11-year-old female neighbor from 2018 through October 2020.
According to the State's Attorneys Office, during the fourth day of trial—just before closing arguments—Britz failed to show up in court.
Authorities launched a search, and with assistance from the Springfield Police Department and the United States Marshals Service, Britz was located and apprehended in Chicago, Illinois.
He remains in custody and will be returned to Sangamon County for sentencing.
Britz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 27 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. His sentencing date has yet to be set.
State’s Attorney John Milhiser commented on the verdict, stating:
“At thirteen years old, a child had the courage to come forward and describe the sexual assaults she had suffered at the hands of a neighbor she trusted. This young lady bravely took the stand against him five years later and described how the defendant preyed upon her for over two years. This case highlights the importance of checking in on our young adolescents and creating a safe space for children to disclose abuses they are suffering at the hands of trusted adults. We endeavor to protect all children in need through aggressive prosecution of these crimes. Investigations of child sexual abuse require a multi-faceted approach and we appreciate the hard work of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center and the Springfield Police Department for the coordinated investigation and for holding this offender accountable.”
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