A Harvard man convicted of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 13 has been sentenced to five years in prison, court records show.
Jose S. Nova-Rivera, 37, of the 1000 block of 9th Street in Harvard, was charged with six counts of criminal sexual assault and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
In a second case involving a different victim, Nova-Rivera was charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and four counts of criminal sexual assault.
The Harvard Police Department arrested Nova-Rivera on January 30, 2020, after an arrest warrant was issued for him the day prior.
A criminal complaint filed in court alleged that Nova-Rivera fondled the genitals of a female juvenile in 2015 and 2016.
In 2017 and 2018, Nova-Rivera allegedly penetrated the child using his fingers, according to the complaint.
Nova-Rivera was also accused of sexually assaulting a second child in 2017 and 2019.
Court records show that the victims were family relatives of Nova-Rivera.
One of the victims was under the age of 13 and the other was between 13-17 years old.
McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge in April found Nova-Rivera guilty of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, a Class 2 felony.
Nova-Rivera was found not guilty on the other charges.
Coppedge sentenced Nova-Rivera on Wednesday to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Nova-Rivera, who will be required to serve 50% of his sentence, will receive credit for over 850 days of time served in the county jail awaiting his case.
Nova-Rivera was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.