Man who molested girl in Aurora sentenced to 15 years

A Mississippi man was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for having sex with the minor daughter of his former girlfriend at her Aurora home, DuPage County authorities said.

Anthony Pegues, 44, pleaded guilty in November to two counts of criminal sexual assault. DuPage Judge John Kinsella heard the plea and handed down the sentence.

Pegues had sex with the girl on several occasions from March 2011 to December 2011, authorities said. In exchange, Pegues is accused of giving the girl presents including money, phone cards and clothing.

The mother became aware of the assaults after her daughter told her, authorities said, and a subsequent investigation by the DuPage County Children's Center led to Pegues.

"For nearly one year, Mr. Pegues repeatedly sexually assaulted his young victim just to satisfy his sick sexual desires," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. "He took advantage of the trust placed in him by his victim and his victim's mother. The harm he was doing to his victim and their family never crossed his mind."

Kinsella sentenced Pegues to seven and a half years on each of the two counts, which will be served consecutively. Pegues will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.