In 2017, The New York Times published a story detailing accounts of sexual harassment allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. The case has been closely followed for the past three years as numerous charges were brought against Weinstein for various instances of alleged rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. In January of 2020, the trial against Weinstein began in New York, and it came to a close in late February, with the jury delivering a guilty verdict. Those who are familiar with this case may wonder how Illinois’ laws address accusations of sex crimes.

Weinstein Convicted of Criminal Sexual Assault and Rape

After the initial accusations brought against Weinstein by actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan, more women came forth to make claims that they had also suffered sexual assaults by Weinstein. While dozens of women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, he faced two counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree rape, and one count of a criminal sexual act in the first degree. After five days of deliberation, Weinstein was convicted of third-degree rape and a criminal sexual act in the first degree. He was subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Being accused of a sex crime can greatly impact your life, regardless of the charge. Even if you are not convicted of the alleged charge, your criminal record is public information, and arrests or accusations can appear on a background check. A sex crime conviction can bring about many undesired consequences. Not only can you be sentenced to prison or probation or be ordered to pay steep fines, you will also face the judgment of the public and experience negative effects on your personal life and relationships, and you may even be required to register as a sex offender.

In the state of Illinois, the two major sex crimes are criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse. Though they are similar crimes, they have different consequences.

In the United States, violent crime is not uncommon. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were more than 1.2 million violent crimes reported in the country in 2017. In Illinois alone, there were an estimated 56,000 incidences of violent crime that year. The state of Illinois defines violent crime as any felony crime that involves the use of force or the threat of force against the victim, or any misdemeanor crime in which death or great bodily harm comes to the victim.

Violent crime is taken extremely seriously and penalties for a conviction are severe. If you are charged with a violent crime, it is important you understand the potential consequences, and that you speak with a skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

An Illinois man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman that he met at a nightclub in August 2017. The man was sentenced to probation last week after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and not criminal sexual assault, which he was originally charged with.

The Case

According to police, the man and another man, both residents of Arlington Heights, met the woman and two of her friends at a club in Lake in the Hills. The group left the club and went to the woman’s Crystal Lake house where the man forcibly performed sex acts on the woman, who said he held her down during the acts. The woman also stated that the men stole several pieces of jewelry that amounted to more than $500.

A homeless Illinois man has been charged with sexual assault for an incident occurring near the Illinois Prairie Path in Wheaton. The incident occurred in the early morning on May 18 near a DuPage Pads shelter, an organization that provides housing and support services to help individuals become self-sufficient.

The Case

Wheaton Police responded to a call that someone was screaming for help around the Pads shelter in Wheaton. The police reported that when they got there, they found the victim and the woman who was screaming for help, with dirt on her face and scratches and cuts to her upper body. According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office, the man approached the woman and demanded sex. When she refused, he allegedly dragged her into the woods by her hair, sexually assaulted her and then fled the scene.