MT. VERNON, IL — A 26-year-old Mt. Vernon man pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse and was sentenced for a May 4th incident at a local hotel.

Zachary Ford was one of two men arrested on juvenile sexual abuse charges. 19-year-old Dezjuan Bellamy of Cairo was also arrested and charged with criminal sexual abuse. Bellamy, being less than 5 years older than the victim, was charged with a class A misdemeanor.

It is not alleged there was force used in this case however because of the victim’s age, she could not give consent.

Ford was convicted in 2013 in Shelby County for violating sex offender registration and for criminal sexual abuse with a victim who could not give consent. He was sentenced to 3 years in that case.

Ford appeared August 12th for a pre-trial hearing and pleaded guilty to the class 2 felony. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison.