Lengthy Prison Term for Sex Offense for Wheeler Resident

Wheeler resident Joshua Lester has been sentenced to prison for a sex offense.

Lester, who will turn 44 on Saturday, pleaded guilty. 

At the time of Lester's arrest in 2023, Effingham City Police Chief Jason McFarland said his office began an investigation and determined that the victim in the matter was under 17 years old.

Lester was sentenced by Judge Allan Lolie to eight years in prison. Once out of prison, Lester will be on three years mandatory supervised release. He was given credit for serving 602 days in jail awaiting disposition of his case.