MCDONOUGH COUNTY, ILL. -- A McDonough County man was sentenced to 24 years in prison this morning for the 2006 beating death of his former girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter, Silven Yocum.

A Warren County jury convicted Daniel Belknap of first-degree murder back in September. Jurors believed Belknap was responsible for causing the head injuries that led to the girl's death while at his home near Macomb.

Belknap was initially convicted in May 2008. An appellate court later overturned Belknap's first conviction, leading to the second trial.

Belknap will be credited with four years already served in prison.