Man gets 7 years for sex crime

A Shobonier man who pleaded guilty last month to a sex crime was sentenced last week to seven years in prison, three years less than the cap agreed to by prosecutors.
Associate Judge Allan F. Lolie Jr. of Shelbyville handed down the sentence for Jarvis R. Denning at the completion of the hearing last Wednesday in Fayette County Circuit Court.
Denning, who is required to serve at least 85 percent of the seven-year sentence, was given 115 days credit for time he has served in the Fayette County Jail since his arrest.
He was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse on Aug. 18 of last year. A second count, alleging criminal sexual assault, was filed on Sept. 15 of last year.
Denning presented an open plea of guilty to criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The victim in the case was between the ages of 13 and 17.
In accepting Denning’s plea, the office of Fayette County State’s Attorney Stephen Friedel agreed not to seek a sentence of more than 10 years.
That maximum was what Assistant State’s Attorney Matt Chancey asked for in presenting evidence during the hearing.
Chancey said that the evidence he presented included Denning’s conviction for criminal sexual assault while he was a juvenile.
Also presented was Denning’s “fairly substantial” list of prior convictions, Chancey said. Those convictions included one for driving under the influence and a number of other driving offenses.
Chancey said he also presented a videotaped confession by Denning that was recorded during an investigation and that led to his arrest. He said Denning committed the offense while acting in a position of trust or authority.
Statements made in that confession, Chancey said, conflicted with ones that Denning made to a probation officer as part of the pre-sentencing investigation.
The prosecution’s sentencing evidence also included admissions made by Denning during a telephone conversation that was recorded through an order issued by the court.