MARION COUNTY — A 22-year-old Irvington man was sentenced Tuesday in Marion County Court to 6-years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old victim.

Steven Sanders was arrested in July, after Centralia police received allegations from a 12-year-old girl that Sanders sexually assaulted when they were both staying at the home of friends in Centralia.

Sanders was initially charged with Class X felony predatory criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13, and two counts Class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 13.

He entered into a plea agreement Tuesday with the state with the Class X and one of the Class 2 felony charges being dismissed, in exchange for the guilty plea on the other Class 2 felony.

He was given credit for time served in the Marion County Jail since his July 13 arrest. After serving his prison sentence, Sanders will have to serve 2-years mandatory supervised release.