Granite City man gets 25 years in sex case

EDWARDSVILLE — A Granite City man will spent 25 years in prison after admitting in Madison County Circuit Court that he committed child sex offenses involving an underage girl and fathered a child with her.

Eli L. Winters, 26, pleaded guilty Tuesday, July 28, to child sexual abuse material and criminal sexual abuse. Prosecutors said he admitted filming himself engaged in a sex act with a minor in December 2024. Court records and later interviews showed the victim was between 13 and 17 years old, and investigators said Winters later acknowledged having a “relationship” with the girl. He also told police she gave birth to his child.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Department reopened the case in March 2026 after receiving new information from a social-services agency. In May, charges were filed, shortly after resuming the investigation.

As part of the sentence, Winters must register as a sex offender for life and will be subject to three years to a lifetime of mandatory supervised release. The prosecution of the case was in Madison County Circuit Court.

HLNF Staff Report

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