By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – McLean County States Attorney Jason Chambers said it’s very unusual for a judge to impose a prison sentence longer than the penalty recommended by the prosecution, but that’s what happened in the case of a local man convicted of child molestation.
The State’s Attorney’s office recommended 30-years in prison for Cristian Aranda, but Judge William Workman imposed a 32-year prison sentence Friday.
Workman, himself a former prosecutor, usually handles Logan County cases, but he was assigned to preside over Aranda’s McLean County trial in April.
A jury found Aranda guilty of molesting two young girls.
Chambers remembers only one other case since he became State’s Attorney 5 1/2-years ago in which the judge imposed a prison sentence longer than the state’s recommendation.
Chambers said he welcomes the harsher penalty especially for such a serious crime.
Aranda was a volunteer soccer coach at Normal West High School and coached the Illinois Fusion traveling soccer club. However, authorities say the sexual abuse was not related to Aranda’s coaching duties.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]