Man sentenced to 18 years in rape of 12-year-old

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By WSBT News1

Story Created: Jun 26, 2009 at 9:06 AM EST

Story Updated: Jun 26, 2009 at 9:06 AM EST

OTTAWA, Ill. (AP) — A LaSalle County judge has handed down an 18-year prison sentence to an Ottawa man who raped a 12-year-old girl while on leave from the Army in February of last year.

During his sentencing hearing Thursday, 29-year-old Justin Ray Sparlin apologized to the victim, who is now 14.

LaSalle County State's Attorney Matt Kidder said he felt the sentence imposed by Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Raccuglia (rah-COOL'-ee-ah) was appropriate, even though Sparlin fled to Europe after the charges were filed. Kidder said Sparlin was facing as long as 30 years in prison, but had a clean record and had spent two tours in Iraq.

Sparlin was arrested in March after a bar fight in Heidelberg, Germany, and returned to authorities in Illinois.

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Information from: Tom Franklin of WCMY-AM.

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