MT. VERNON, IL — A 33-year-old Mt. Vernon man was charged Thursday morning in Jefferson County Court with criminal sexual assault in connection with a report made to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department over the weekend. According to the JCSO, they arrested Anthony M. Knappier Wednesday following an investigation that started based off a report Saturday, February 6th, of an alleged sexual assault of a juvenile.
Deputies responded to Lot #30 of the Rolling Meadows Trailer park located in the 16000 block of north IL Hwy 37 in rural Mt. Vernon. They subsequently took protective action on scene to ensure the wellbeing of juveniles in the residence and contacted Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and investigators from the Department of Children and Family Services to take over the investigation.
Knappier was charged Thursday with Class 2 felony criminal sexual assault. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bail set at $500,000. He’s next scheduled to appear in court March 3rd for a preliminary hearing and a first appearance with his court appointed attorney.