(Galesburg, IL)  –  A Galesburg man who entered guilty plea to charges of hitting a 12-year old boy was in Knox County Circuit Court to be sentenced last week.  32-year old Stephen L. Hopping was sentenced to nine years of jail time for striking the boy.  Hopping reached a plea bargain and was charged with attempted aggravated battery of a child.  Several charges were dismissed as part of the agreement. Those charges included aggravated battery of a child, domestic battery, domestic battery and endangering the life of a child.  Hopping did offer an apology during his sentencing.