Sterling man sentenced to 10 years for Ogle County child rape, has another case pending in Whiteside

OREGON – A Sterling man charged in Whiteside County with sexually assaulting a child younger than 18 was sentenced Tuesday in Ogle County to 10 years for the same thing.

Christopher J. Sprague, 47, raped a 15-year-old girl at the Lake Ladonna Campground in Oregon over Memorial Day weekend, Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said in a news release, and court records show.

Sprague was charged Oct. 21 with four counts of criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, and sexual assault by force.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sexual assault and was sentenced to 5 years, each, sentences to run consecutively.

He must serve 85%, or 8 years and 6 months, and register as a sex offender for life.

Sterling police assisted with the investigation, according to the release.

Sprague also was charged Sept. 24 in Whiteside County with criminal sexual assault of a person younger than 18.

In that case, he also is accused of raping a a 15-year-old girl, in June or July, court records show.

He pleaded not guilty Dec. 27 and has a pretrial hearing June 22.

If convicted, he faces 4 to 15 years in prison, of which he also must serve 85%.

Sprague was sentenced in Whiteside County to 5 years in 1991 for forgery and robbery, and to 6 years in 2006 for manufacturing meth, court records show.