A Macon County court ruled Wednesday to allow hearsay statements in the child sex abuse trial of a 66-year-old Centralia man.

Joseph R. Beckmann, of Chipwood Lane, is free on bond in the 2017 case charging him with Class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 13.

Online court records show the Macon County case against Beckmann was initially opened late in 2016 and he was arrested in August 2017.

In June of 2017, an order of protection was taken out against Beckmann in Marion County Court.

A motion to dismiss that order was denied in court despite what may be duplicative relief with the Macon County case. The protective order remains in effect.

Beckmann is next due in Macon County court June 7 for a pre-trial hearing.