Ford County Judge Matt Fitton handed a Cabery (Kay-bree) man a six-year prison term for sexually abusing a six-year-old girl.

36-year-oold Michael Vangilder was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse – the incident happening while the girl's mother was away at work. The ruling came after a two-day bench trial in September.

Vangilder will be required to serve at least 50 percent of his sentence and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Vangilder was eligible for a sentence ranging from probation to up to seven years in prison. He had no prior criminal history — other than a sex crime for which he had been charged in Kankakee County but was acquitted.

94.1 WGFA