FAYETTE COUNTY — A 53-year-old Farina man who pleaded guilty last year to sexually assaulting a child is now claiming that despite his wishes to take the case to trial, his defense attorney would not allow that to happen.

Larry Sapp was arrested and charged in 2016 with three counts Class X felony predatory sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13.

Sapp pleaded guilty in June 2017 to one of the Class X charges in exchange for the other two counts being dismissed. He was sentenced to 11 ½ years in prison with credit for just over a year served in the Fayette County Jail.

On September 21 of this year, however, Judge Don Sheafor – who presided over the plea agreement — received a letter from Sapp claiming Public Defender Bill Starnes would not let the case go to trial.

Sapp appeared in court Wednesday and his letter was filed. The court assigned Conflict Public Defender Jeff DeLong to represent Sapp.

Due to allegations in the letter against State’s Attorney Josh Morrison, Illinois State Police Special Agent Jeff Kline, and others, the Appellate Prosecutors Office has been contacted to avoid conflict and the case has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office.

The case is next scheduled for a November 27 status hearing.