Shelbyville, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The following was released by the Shelby County State’s Attorney’s Office:SHELBY COUNTY JURY RETURNS VERDICTS OF GUILTY AGAINST CHRIS WILLIAMS ON FOUR COUNTS OF PREDATORY CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD
Shelby County State’s Attorney Nichole Kroncke announced that on January 13, 2023, a Shelby County jury found defendant Chris Williams, age 56, of Tower Hill, Illinois, guilty of four counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. The jury deliberated one hour and 48 minutes before returning its verdicts. Williams’ $2,500,000 bond was revoked and he was remanded to the Shelby County Jail after the verdicts were read.
Following a lengthy investigation, Williams was charged with committing four acts of sexual penetration upon a seven-year-old child on two separate dates in October and November of 2020 at his Tower Hill residence. The five-day trial concluded after fifteen witnesses testified on behalf of the State. The defendant also testified and denied committing the offenses.
The State’s theory of the case was that Williams intentionally lured unsuspecting children to his lakeside home for overnight visits by allowing them access to multiple recreational vehicles and unlimited recreational activities. The State argued that Williams would then prey on the most vulnerable children, sexually assaulting them as they slept. A second victim testified that he too was assaulted by Williams in the same manner as the seven-year-old child.
Williams will be sentenced on March 10, 2023 at 10:00 am. He faces a sentencing range of 24 to 120 years in prison, to be served at 85%. Williams will also be subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Shelby County State’s Attorney Nichole Kroncke stated, “Thank you to the jury members who attentively presided over this complex and difficult case, for seeing the truth, and for ensuring that justice was finally served.”
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Illinois State Police, Zone 5 Investigations with Special Agent Aaron Carr assigned as the lead investigator. Shelby County State’s Attorney Nichole Kroncke prosecuted the case with Attorney Gary Geisler defending. The case was presided over by the Honorable Judge Chris Matoush.
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