Godfrey Man Sentenced to 8 Years After Guilty Plea in Calhoun County Sexual Abuse Case
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said Tommy R. Thompson, 38, pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse and must register for life as a sex offender.
HARDIN — Tommy R. Thompson, 38, of Godfrey, Illinois, pleaded guilty June 30 to the amended offense of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 1 felony, after a Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office investigation that began with a Dec. 18, 2025, complaint of child sexual assault, authorities said.
Under a negotiated plea agreement presented to Judge Charles HW Burch, Thompson was sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with credit for 183 days served in pretrial detention. The conviction also requires lifetime registration on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.
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The investigation began Dec. 18, 2025, when the sheriff’s office received a complaint of child sexual assault. During the investigation, the sheriff’s office worked with the United Child Advocacy Network to assist with forensic child interviews, as well as the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
After the investigation, Sheriff Zach Hardin arrested Thompson on Dec. 30, 2025, on a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault — victim under 13 years old, a Class X felony.
Hardin handled the investigation with assistance from Pike County Chief Deputy Zack Orr. Calhoun County State’s Attorney Lucas Fanning presented and prosecuted the case.
“I would like to thank the brave victim for having the strength to come forward and remaining positive through this difficult and traumatic time. I would like to thank the family and friends of the victim, for their unwavering support, presence, and love they showed by continuing to be the victim’s voice through this process. I wish that all victim’s of abuse would feel the same level of safety and support to come forward; so that no abuse goes unreported. I will always remain committed to the pursuit of justice to all victims of violent crime in our community, especially to our children,” Hardin said.
The sheriff’s office also thanked Orr, the United Child Advocacy Network, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Calhoun County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
Anonymous tips of child sexual abuse can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) cyber tip line at www.cybertipline.com.
For resources for survivors of sexual abuse visit: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources.
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