James Wooten (Photo credit: WMIX, Mt. Vernon)

SALEM (WMIX) – A 23-year-old Georgia man was sentenced Tuesday in Marion County Court to six years in prison after he’d earlier pleaded guilty to felony sexual abuse.

James Wooten was arrested in June of 2023 and charged in Marion County Court with Class X felony aggravated criminal sexual assault, Class 3 felony aggravated battery involving strangling, and two Class 4 counts of unlawful restraint.

Wooten pleaded guilty in November to a Class 2 felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in exchange for the other charges being dismissed.

According to Centralia Police, Wooten held the victim against her will for several hours last June and sexually assaulted her.

She was eventually able to escape the home partially clothed and ran to the nearby Casey’s General Store to ask for help.

She was ultimately treated at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia for her injuries.