A Seaton man found guilty in a Mercer County sex abuse case has been sentenced to 29 years in prison. The punishment handed down to 52-year-old Mark Hockenberry Tuesday afternoon in Mercer County Circuit Court.
He was found guilty of a Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual of a child and three Class 2 felonies of aggravated criminal sexual abuse during a four-day bench trial last February.
Hockenberry was charged in November of 2022 in connection with allegations in 2020, 2021, and 2022 involving a female youth.
He received a 25-year sentence on the Class X felony and three concurrent four-year terms on the Class 2 felonies, which will run consecutive to the 25-year sentence.
Hockenberry has been in custody at the Mercer County Jail since the guilty verdict in February.
Mercer County State’s Attorney Grace Simpson spoke with WRMJ Tuesday afternoon: