A Lincoln man has been sentenced to a century in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
A Lancaster County judge, Lori Maret, handed down a lengthy prison sentence of 98 to 100 years to Christopher McIlheran, a 39-year-old individual, on Wednesday. McIlheran reached a plea agreement in June.
Prosecutors reduced one charge and dismissed another after the defendant entered a guilty plea. He has been found guilty of first-degree sexual assault and possessing child pornography, having a previous conviction.
Man Drugged Pre-Teen Girls and Molested Them; Extradited to Face Trial in Michigan
According to court documents, McIlheran faced allegations of sexual abuse involving a girl who was 13 years old at the time, spanning from June 2022 to September 2023. Authorities became aware of the abuse when a family member stumbled upon disturbing photos and videos on the girl’s phone.
Authorities uncovered evidence that McIlheran had manipulated the young girl into producing explicit videos and images. Additionally, it is suspected that McIlheran supplied the girl with adult toys and a secure place to keep them.
According to the affidavit, McIlheran is accused of sexually assaulting the girl multiple times between 2022 and 2023.
The conviction follows a previous conviction in Hall County seven years ago. McIlheran has been found guilty of first-degree sexual assault and has been given a prison sentence of three to eight years.
He was finally set free almost four years after being convicted. According to prison records, his projected release date has been scheduled for March of 2076.