Beck Receives 25-Year Sentence for Sexual Assault of Child

Former Watson resident Timothy Beck has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

Judge Kimberly Koester sentenced Beck Thursday afternoon following Beck's decision to withdraw a motion to withdraw his guilty plea. 

The 31-year-old Beck had agreed to plead guilty in February, but then sent the court a letter without his attorney's knowledge earlier this month, seeking to withdraw the guilty plea. In court Thursday, though, Beck withdrew the motion to withdraw the guilty plea and the sentencing hearing was held.

Beck was charged after an eight-year-old boy told his family last August about sexual contact by Beck over a five-month period. The family then contacted police.

Once Beck completes his prison sentence, he will be on mandatory supervised release from three years to life. Beck must also complete 85% of his sentence before he'll be eligible for parole. Even with credit for having served 194 days since his arrest in August, Beck will not be eligible for parole before 2036.

The defense sought a 10-year prison term, while State's Attorney Bryan Kibler sought the maximum 25-year sentence.