Sentencing for Local Man on Sexual Abuse, Assault Counts

Effingham resident Joshua Rowlands has been sentenced to prison on counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault.

The 44-year-old Rowlands was arrested in March of 2019 for actions against a girl who was 11 years old at the time. A jury found Rowlands guilty in February of this year. Delays including a change in defense attorneys led to the sentencing on Monday.

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Judge Allan Lolie sentenced Rowlands to five years in prison on the aggravated criminal sexual abuse count, then to 13 years in prison on the predatory criminal sexual assault count. The sentences will run consecutively, not together. Rowlands will spend three years to life on mandatory supervised release once out of prison.

Rowlands has been in custody since his conviction.