Carter Meister sentenced for sexual assault of a minor

A former Fairbury Police Department officer was sentenced to prison in a sex assault case. 24-year-old Carter Meister of Forrest pled guilty to a class one felony of Criminal Sexual Assault.  He was handed a four-year prison term Friday 4/26.  He must serve 85 percent of the sentence and register as a sex offender for life. As part of the plea agreement, three other sex assault and four sexual abuse charges were dropped.

The Illinois State Police was notified of an allegation of Criminal Sexual Assault against Meister on October 2nd of 2023. ISP agents gathered evidence regarding the allegations and Meister was arrested on October 5th. Court records show Meister sexually assaulted a minor between the ages of 13 and 17 in the Livingston County area.

Meister graduated from the police academy as an officer with the Fairbury Police Department in April of 2022. Meister also received the highest academic award due to him having the highest-grade point average in a class which consisted of 95 cadets. Meister is no longer a member of the Fairbury Police Department, having resigned in late 2023.

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