Bedwell Found Guilty of Sex Crime

Local resident Larry Bedwell III has been sentenced on a count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

The 21-year-old Bedwell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was given credit for 184 days served in Effingham County Jail while awaiting disposition of his case. 

Bedwell will serve two mandatory supervised release once out of prison. 

During the investigation of the case last October, Bedwell, a sexual predator who is required to register, was found to be non-compliant in his registration and was found to have been residing within proximity of a local school building, which is a prohibited area for registered sexual predators. He was found to be living in Effingham, but was registered at an address in rural Teutopolis.

The charge of failure to notify authorities of a change of address and failure to notify authorities of a change in employment were dismissed as part of the negotiated plea.