Leslie Jones, 50, of Creal Springs was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Benton.

Jones pleaded guilty to an information on Oct. 5, 2009, charging that Jones did knowingly excavate, remove, damage and otherwise alter and deface archaeological resources located on public lands without having a permit.

The violation took place beginning on or about 2004 and continuing through February 2007, in Union County, within the Southern District of Illinois, and elsewhere.

Jones was sentenced to five years’ probation, 30 days of imprisonment and 500 hours community service.

In addition to the normal terms and conditions of probation, Jones was ordered not to sell to any antiquities dealer or enter onto any state or federal property where antiquities may be found without prior approval from the probation office.

Details for the information were obtained in an investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson.