A Vermilion County Circuit Court jury has returned guilty verdicts against a 37-year-old Danville man on 3 counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy says the evidence showed that Richard V. Ashley committed regular acts of sexual penetration and contact with a female child over a three year period while serving as her babysitter.
The sexual abuse began when the girl was six years old and continued until she was eight, says Lacy. The girl testified at the trial before Circuit Judge Nancy Fahey along with various family members.
The case was investigated by Danville Police. Ashley is due to be sentenced on June 7th. Each count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault is a Class X felony carrying a penalty ranging from 6 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. It is mandatory that the sentences on each count run consecutive, and under Illinois law the defendant will be required to serve at least 85-percent of the sentence before being considered for parole.
Assistant State’s Attorney’s Stephanie Weber and Daniel Taylor handled the case for the prosecution.
