A Springfield man was convicted of sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl from 2018 to 2020 and faces at least 27 years in prison.

A Springfield man, 56-year-old Samuel L. Britz, was convicted by a Sangamon County jury on four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving an 11-year-old girl from 2018 to October 2020. The verdict came during the fourth day of trial after Britz skipped court and was arrested in Chicago with help from local police and the U.S. Marshals Service. He remains in custody and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 27 years in prison. Prosecutors credited the victim’s testimony and collaboration between law enforcement and the Child Advocacy Center for the conviction. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.