Sentencing postponed for convicted Rosemont man

Sentencing for a Rosemont man convicted of assaulting a girl over a period of about seven years has been postponed until Oct. 14.

The sentencing hearing for Christopher Cooper, 29, was changed because one of the prosecutors was sick.

A six-man, six-woman jury convicted Cooper six months ago of predatory criminal sexual assault following a four-day trial during which the victim, now 20, testified that he sexually molested her beginning when she was about 6 years old. The woman testified that she became pregnant at age 13 and that Cooper was the father. The woman, who was under the care of Cooper’s mother, Patricia Cooper, testified that she subsequently terminated the pregnancy.

Throughout the trial, Cooper’s attorneys insisted he had been falsely accused by the woman. Defense attorneys said her testimony was not credible because she admitted under oath that she had originally lied about the pregnancy and claimed someone else was the father. The woman said she lied because she feared Patricia Cooper.

Christopher Cooper faces a sentence ranging from six to 30 years in prison.