An Elgin man is headed to prison for sexually assaulting a child he knew.

Thomas E. White, 62, of the 600 block of East Chicago Street,  Elgin, was sentenced late Thursday, May 21, 2015, by Associate Judge Clint Hull to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

White pleaded guilty March 26, 2015, to criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony.  Judge Hull accepted the plea.

On June 7, 2014, White had sexual contact with the victim, whom he knew. The victim was younger than 18 at the time.

White was eligible for an extended prison term because of a prior felony conviction; in 2006 he was convicted of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony.

In addition to the prison term, White must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.

According to Illinois law, White must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. He was given credit for at least 340 days served in the Kane County jail.

The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Debra Bree.

“Thanks to everyone on our Child Advocacy Center team who had a role in the case, and to the victim’s family, who immediately reported this abuse and fully cooperated with us in the prosecution of this case,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release