MT. VERNON, IL — A Jefferson County jury deliberated for just over three hours Thursday before finding a 28-year-old Mt. Vernon man guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 and possession of child pornography of a victim under the age of 13 – all three Class X felonies. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into Cody T. Rector on April 29th, 2020. Jefferson County State’s Attorney Sean Featherstun then filed four Class X felony charges against Rectory – two for predatory criminal sexual assault and two for possession of child pornography.

He also filed five Class 3 felony counts of possessing child pornography and one for possessing a firearm with a revoked firearm against Rector, who was subsequently arrested a few days later and booked into the Jefferson County Jail.

Rector stayed in the county jail until July 2021 when he posed $25,000 cash bail.  

The two day trial began Tuesday and following the jury’s guilty verdicts Judge Jerry Crisel remanded Rector back into the custody of the Jefferson County Jail.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 18. A Class X felony is punishable by between 6 and 30 years in prison and a Class 3 felony is punishable by between 2 and 5 years.

The Sheriff commends the work by Detective Captain Bobby Wallace, States Attorney Sean Featherstun, and First Assistant Julie Kozuszek in this case.