An Illinois man is facing a sex crime charge after being accused of raping a woman in Glen Carbon Village. The 40-year-old man is facing several charges in connection with this purported crime, including criminal sexual assault, unlawful restraint and a felony count of domestic battery. If convicted on the sex crime charges, he is likely to spend years behind bars.
A local woman recently contacted police and claimed she was raped inside her home. According to police, the 40-year-old man accused of the crime was arrested shortly after the woman alerted authorities. In lieu of a $100,000 bond, the man was being held at the Madison County Jail.
A village police officer stated in his 12-year tenure, he recalls a handful of forcible rapes occurring in the area. He says that just one case involved people who did not know each other, though it was not clear in a news report if the parties here knew each other.
Police indicate that this is not the man’s first brush with the law. According to court records, the man has four prior felony convictions and has been sentenced to prison several times between the years of 1996 and 2001.
This man is definitely facing an uphill legal battle in connection with the multiple sex crime charges leveled against him. Although he is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in the eyes of the law, he is likely to face hurdles due to his criminal history, which could prematurely lead the court to believe he is guilty. Doing so may help him as he prepares to defend himself against allegations that are likely have significant and life-altering consequences, even if he is not convicted. Individuals accused of sex crimes, even if they are not convicted, often face difficulty rebuilding their reputation within their local community.
Source: The Edwardsville Intelligencer, “Local man charged with rape,” Oliver Wiest, April 17, 2012