JACKSON COUNTY — A 67-year-old Murphysboro man was sentenced Friday to more than two decades in prison for sexually assaulting a child and for producing child pornography.

Paul Blaney was sentenced in Jackson County court to 24-years in prison for criminal sexual assault of a child and a consecutive 8-years in prison for producing child pornography.

Blaney’s December arrest came after a 14-month investigation. At the time of his arrest the Murphysboro Police Department said the charges came four days after authorities found evidence of the production and possession of child pornography during a search of Blaney’s home.

Blaney was initially charged with five counts Class X felony production of child pornography of a victim under the age of 13 and one Class X felony count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13.

He pleaded guilty in March to the two counts in exchange for the other four being dismissed. He was given credit for 165 days served in the county jail, but will have to serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.