ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – William S. Muth, a South Elgin man who last year was sentenced to prison on child pornography charges, was convicted Wednesday of sexually preying on and molesting a young girl he knew.

Muth, 46, was found guilty by a Kane County jury of six counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, each a Class X felony, and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, each a Class 2 felony, according to a news release issued by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

Muth faces a sentence of between 36 and 120 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the predatory criminal sexual assault counts and a sentence of probation or a minimum of three years on the aggravated criminal sexual assault counts. The terms would be served consecutively.

In April 2011, Muth was sentenced to three years in prison after he was convicted of 22 counts of possession of child pornography.

On Wednesday, the jury returned its verdict after about three hours of deliberation.

Between Jan. 1, 2007, and Feb. 7, 2008, Muth had sexual contact multiple times with a young girl he knew. The victim was younger than 13 at the time.

Circuit Judge David R. Akemann set Muth’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 15.

“The victim in this case showed great courage in coming forward and testifying publicly, in front of a jury,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in the release. “I can only imagine that doing so was extremely difficult, and she deserves immense praise and credit. We are and we always will be buoyed and humbled by the strength shown by the victims of these appalling and selfish crimes, and we always will stand with these victims.

“My thanks to Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Christine Bayer and Bill Engerman, who prosecuted this case, and to the Kane County Child Advocacy Center and the South Elgin Police Department, for the thorough investigation of this case.”