Turner Guilty of James Murder

An Eldorado man was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a 7-year-old family member and second-degree murder, according to Saline County State's Attorney Michael Henshaw.

Richard Turner II, 34, of Eldorado, first pleaded guilty to the sex crime and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. He must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence and must register as a sex offender for life,

The crime occurred between September 2000 and September 2002, according to a news release from Henshaw.

Turner on Wednesday afternoon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the June 2009 death of 4-year-old Jessika James of Eldorado. He received a sentence of 20 years in prison, which will run concurrently with the sex-crime sentence.

James died at 4:40 p.m. Monday, June 22, 2009, in Children's Hospital in St. Louis. Turner was accused of causing head injuries to James, who died two days after being transferred by emergency flight to the St. Louis hospital.

A medical examiner with the city of St. Louis medical examiner's office ruled James' death as a homicide from blunt trauma at the hands of another, according to Saline County court records.

Authorities arrested Turner in early April 2010 at the Saline County Courthouse after he was involved in an unrelated civil hearing.

The pleas came about Wednesday morning with the jury in the courtroom and ready to hear the sex-crime case.

Henshaw and Assistant State's Attorney Eva Walker prosecuted. Attorney Morgan Scroggins represented Turner. Illinois State Police Special Agent Gwen Basinger was lead investigator in both cases.