A Granite City man currently serving 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting and beating an O'Fallon woman at Horseshoe Lake State Park in 2008 had his sentence reduced to 15 years on Wednesday.

Keith Recklein, 34, was sentenced to 50 years in prison in April 2010 on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated battery.

Stephanee Smith, spokeswoman with the Madison County State's Attorney's Office, said the appellate court in Mount Vernon ruled in May that prosecutors failed to prove without a reasonable doubt Recklein committed aggravated criminal sexual assault. However, the appellate court found prosecutors did prove the lesser offense of attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault.

As a result of the appellate court's ruling, Recklein was resentenced to 15 years in prison by Madison County Judge Kyle Napp.

Smith said prosecutors argued for 30 years based on the fact it was a "brutal and heinous" crime.

An employee at Horseshoe Lake State Park found the victim, beaten and unable to speak in May 2008. The victim was hospitalized for weeks, suffering from broken bones and a head injury.

During the trial in 2009, prosecutors said Recklein lured the victim to the park claiming a friend needed her help.

The victim testified she arrived at the park and was met by the caller, who said her friend was in the woods, vomiting. The victim said she was looking for her friend when the man put her in a headlock from behind and choked her into unconsciousness.

DNA linked Recklein to evidence found in the woman's underwear.

However, Recklein told detectives he blacked out and only remembers meeting the woman, then pulling up in his driveway with a swollen fist.

Recklein is currently serving his time at the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 239-2562 or jforsythe1@bnd.com.