Springfield Man Found Guilty of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault

A Sangamon County jury has found 56-year-old Samuel L. Britz of Springfield guilty of four counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault and two counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. The verdict, delivered on October 9, 2025, follows a detailed trial that revealed Britz sexually assaulted an 11-year-old female neighbor beginning in 2018 and continuing through October 2020.

According to prosecutors, the victim came forward at the age of thirteen, leading to an investigation by the Springfield Police Department and the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center. During the four-day trial, Britz failed to appear in court just before closing arguments. With the assistance of the Springfield Police Department and the United States Marshals Service, he was later apprehended in Chicago and remains in custody. He will be returned to Sangamon County to await sentencing before Judge Cadagin, where he faces a minimum sentence of 27 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Kendra Hansel, Chief of the Crimes Against Children Division, and Assistant State’s Attorney Clare Hensley.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser issued a statement following the verdict, commending the victim’s bravery and the collaboration among agencies involved in the case:

“At thirteen years old, a child had the courage to come forward and describe the sexual assaults she had suffered at the hands of a neighbor she trusted. This young lady bravely took the stand against him five years later and described how the defendant preyed upon her for over two years. This case highlights the importance of checking in on our young adolescents and creating a safe space for children to disclose abuses they are suffering at the hands of trusted adults. We endeavor to protect all children in need through aggressive prosecution of these crimes. Investigations of child sexual abuse require a multi-faceted approach and we appreciate the hard work of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center and the Springfield Police Department for the coordinated investigation and for holding this offender accountable.”

Britz’s sentencing date will be set in the coming weeks.