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Man Receives 35-Year Prison Sentence for Sex Crimes
FIRST REPORTED 3pm 6/1/12 A Galesburg man will be going to prison for several decades for allegedly sexually assaulting a young girl for several years ending last year.

Knox County Circuit Court Judge Scott Shiplett Friday sentenced 33-year old Shawn Pedigo to a total of 35 years in prison, after pleading guilty in February as part of a stipulated bench trial to counts of Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child, and a lesser felony count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.

Pedigo was arrested last year, after allegedly taking pictures of a young girl in a shower, then sending them to another man. He also allegedly molested several girls under the age of 18 between April of 2003 and last year.

During a sentencing hearing Friday, the man Pedigo allegedly sent the pictures to -- Nicholas Friend -- confessed for the first time that he witnessed some of the abuse Pedigo allegedly performed over a decade ago, and that he is just now admitting it for, "self-preservation," and thought it was the right thing to do.

Friend pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor charge and is serving a sentence of probation and community service.

Pedigo cried and apologized, claiming he was addicted to drugs.

Pedigo must serve 85-percent of the 30-year Predatory Sexual Assault charge before he can be released from prison under state law.
06 01 12 by Newsroom
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