THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RELEASE
Yesterday, Judge Mark Isaf sentenced 78–year–old Roger Deckard to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (“IDOC“), after a plea of guilty to two counts of Criminal Sexual Assault. Criminal Sexual Assault is a class one felony punishable from 4-15 years in the IDOC. The defendant plead guilty to two counts and received a 10–year sentence for each count and those sentenced are to be served consecutively. Additionally, he must serve 85% of each 10–year sentence. Following his release he will have to serve a term of mandatory supervised released to be determined by IDOC between 3 years to the rest of his life.
During the plea, Judge Isaf was advised of the evidence in this case that the defendant took advantage of his grandniece’s trusting nature and under–developed intellect and maturity. The defendant, over a course of several years, manipulated her misplaced trust and security and tricked her into having various sexual encounters with him. These crimes were eventually discovered by the family, and law enforcement was contacted. The victim told law enforcement about the crimes and the defendant confessed his behavior to his family.
This investigation was a combined effort of Indiana Law Enforcement and the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department who resolved this investigation quickly and efficiently. The victim’s mother was in court, accompanied by victim advocates from the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office and representatives of the Survivor Resource Center.
“Those individuals that prey on our disabled adults of Vermilion County will not be tolerated and my office will do everything in our power to bring those perpetrators to justice and that our disabled adults and children are kept safe.” Jacqueline Lacy, State’s Attorney
