A Wabash County jury has found a former Mt. Carmel man guilty of sexually abusing a child more than two decades ago.
After about 90 minutes of deliberation Wednesday evening, jurors convicted 45-year-old Joseph Sellers of Janesville, Wisconsin, on two counts of Class 2 felony criminal sexual abuse.
The charges stemmed from incidents that occurred between 1997 and 2000 when the victim was younger than 9 years old and Sellers was 17 and 18 years old.
Sellers testified in his own defense, denying the allegations and telling jurors it was “impossible to remember something that never happened.” During the trial, he described his close relationship with the victim’s family through their church in Mt. Carmel and said he would never have harmed them.
During closing arguments, Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman argued testimony showed Sellers admitted to inappropriate contact with the victim and questioned why the victim would come forward years later if the allegations were untrue.
Defense attorney Monroe McWard argued the case contained inconsistencies and criticized investigators for failing to pursue information he believed could have cleared Sellers.
Following the verdict, McWard said the defense was disappointed and plans to appeal the conviction.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 11 at 10:45 a.m. Sellers faces a prison sentence of three to seven years on each count.
Sellers also remains charged in a separate Wabash County case involving two Class X felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, which are still pending.