FRANKLIN COUNTY — A Franklin County jury took less than an hour to deliver a guilty verdict Thursday in the three-day trial accusing a 32-year-old Zeigler man of sexually assaulting a child.

According to Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn Allen M. Farris was convicted of four counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault.

Dinn says from November 2020 to February 2021, Farris repeatedly sexually assaulted a child in Zeigler. The child disclosed the abuse to authorities in March 2021.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Illinois State Police Investigator Justin Haney jumped into action.

A thorough investigation resulted in a compelling victim statement, witness statements, and a medical evaluation of the victim. A crime scene investigation revealed forensics and DNA evidence.
Farris was quickly arrested, charged, and remanded into the custody of the Franklin County Jail.

A jury trial began last Tuesday resulting in convictions on all five counts on Thursday. Farris will be sentenced at a later date.

The case was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois State Police. It was prosecuted by Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn.