Belleville man charged with sexual abuse of two 14-year-old girls

Sexual abuse can come to light in many ways. One of the most common is an allegation of sexual abuse made to a health care professional. Medical care givers are required to report such allegations to the police. A recent incident involving a teen-age girl’s statement to a medical professional has resulted in nearly a dozen charges of sexual abuse being levied at a Belleville man.

Two girls, both 14 years old, claim that the suspect forced them to have sex with him and to perform sexual acts for him. The police investigation showed that the abuse happened in both Mascoutah and Belleville. The investigation also led police to conclude that some of the incidents occurred in Scheve Park in Mascoutah. Surveillance cameras in the park and in a nearby private home allegedly provided crucial information to police.

Police said that the man knew both girls before the alleged abuse occurred. The girls had allegedly communicated with the suspect online, but police have not ascertained how the suspect and the girls first met. The suspect has been charged with nine counts of aggravated sexual abuse, one count of possessing child pornography and one count of making a recording that depicted child pornography. He is being held by the Belleville Police Department in lieu of $150,000 bail.

All criminal defendants are entitled to be presumed innocent unless and until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but the charges in this case possess an indelible quality that will remain as a stain on the defendant’s reputation regardless of the jury’s verdict. Anyone facing such charges may wish to consult a criminal defense attorney who has defended against sexual abuse claims. A knowledgeable lawyer will know how to deal with the media, evaluate the law and evidence in the case, and, depending upon circumstances, attempt to negotiate a favorable plea bargain or defend the case in court.