MARION COUNTY — A 50-year-old Centralia man was sentenced Friday in Marion County Court to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child.

Carl L. Privatt had challenged his mental fitness to serve a sentence for his May 2019 conviction. A mental fitness examination was ultimately conducted and completed, with the expert finding Privatt mentally fit.

He had waived his right to a jury trial and was instead tried by Judge Mark Stedelin who found him guilty of Class X felony charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13.

In addition to his 20-year prison sentence, Privatt will have to serve 3-years to life on parole. He was given credit for time served in the county jail since his January 2019 arrest.