A 26-year-old man from Champaign, identified as Eugene Joiner, has been sentenced to two consecutive nine-year terms in prison for aggravated criminal sexual assault related to incidents that transpired in 2024.

Champaign County State’s Attorney, Julia Rietz, stated that the Champaign Police discovered through their investigation that on March 17, 2024, around 3 a.m., Joiner coerced a female acquaintance into performing sexual acts in an empty house on the 1300 block of Joanne Lane, Champaign.

The victim reported that Joiner threatened her with a firearm. Evidence collected during the police investigation supported her claims.

Then on April 18, 2024, the victim reported that Joiner had threatened her again. Police found Joiner in the area consistent with the victim’s report and took him into custody.

Initially, Joiner said he did not know the victim, but later claimed the sexual encounter was consensual. Following a jury trial on Jan. 9, 2025, he was found guilty on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. However, the jury found him not guilty of threatening the victim with a firearm.

On Tuesday, Judge Randall B. Rosenbaum sentenced Joiner to nine years’ incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections on each of the two counts, to be served consecutively for a total of 18 years. He will receive credit for the 440 days previously served.