Benton, IL – A groundbreaking decision at Franklin County Courthouse culminated in Allen M. Farris, 33, from Zeigler, receiving a 112-year sentence for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
The substantial sentence was the result of an unconventional approach by Honorable Judge Thomas Tedeschi, who ordered separate 28-year sentences for each of the four counts, ensuring that Farris will serve these terms consecutively.
State’s Attorney Abby Dinn’s office confirmed that the sentence is designed to keep Farris behind bars for life, without the possibility of parole. The evidence that led to this sentence was gathered by the Illinois State Police and the Department of Children and Family Services following Farris’s arrest in 2021.
This sentencing not only reflects the serious nature of Farris’s crimes but also serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice by Franklin County officials. It highlights the legal system’s capacity to creatively structure sentences in order to adequately reflect the severity of the offenses and the importance of protecting the community’s children.
