Illinois man sentenced to 70 years in prison by Sauk County Court

An Illinois man has been sentenced to 70 years in the Wisconsin Prison System. Sauk County District Attorney Michael Albrecht announced the sentencing of William Clyde Murray, age 63, has been sentenced for the sexual assault of a child. 

Murray was convicted of two counts of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 12, a Class B Felony. The convictions follow an investigation into Murray’s repeated sexual assaults on a young family member. The assaults occurred when the victim was between the ages of five and nine. The defendant’s criminal conduct was only halted when another family member caught him in the act in Sauk County. 

The investigation into the Sauk County incident uncovered evidence of earlier abuse that had occurred in Iowa County. To ensure a comprehensive resolution for the victim, Sauk County ultimately assumed prosecution of the Iowa County case through a consolidation of the charges, which led to the two convictions.

The sentence was handed down Monday by Circuit Court Judge Blake Duren. Duren sentenced Murray to 60 years of initial confinement followed by 10 years of extended supervision. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Duren characterized Murray’s actions as “selfish and disgusting.” In a move reflecting the severity of the crimes, the Court made it clear that the primary objective of the sentence was not the rehabilitation of the defendant, but the absolute protection and peace of mind of the victim. Judge Duren stated that the goal was to ensure the victim knew the defendant was “disposed of” and that there would be no possibility of him ever entering her life again.