CLAY COUNTY — A 42-year-old Xenia man was sentenced Monday in Clay County Court to 12 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

According to Clay County State’s Attorney Phillip M. Givens, a Clay County jury convicted Jessie W. Goff in August of this year of Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault of a minor while in a position of trust.

The charge alleged that between August and December of 2019, Goff sexually assaulted the minor victim who was 13 years of age, while Goff held a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to the minor.

Givens says Goff was a reserve volunteer officer for Xenia at the time, the victim’s neighbor and father figure

Following a contested sentencing hearing, Judge Joel Powless sentenced Goff to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Goff will have a Mandatory Supervised Release period of 3 years to life and will have to register as a Sex Offender for the rest of his life.

The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police and assisted by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

State’s Attorney Givens said he’s grateful that the victim in the case will receive a sense of justice for what occurred and he hopes a sentence like this will deter others from committing similar crimes against the children in the community.