Sex Crimes

July 13, 2022

Substitute Teacher Charged with Enticement/Grooming of Student

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

An Illinois man recently pleaded guilty to grooming charges after he sent a sexually explicit message to one of his former students—a sophomore—over a social media platform. The teacher pleaded guilty to one count of grooming in a negotiated plea deal that saw prosecutors drop another charge of indecent solicitation of a minor and another charge of sending sexually explicit material to a minor. The teacher was accused of sending sexually explicit messages and videos to a 15-year-old girl. The teacher worked at the school for about six weeks.

As a part of the negotiated plea deal, the teacher will be required to serve at least 90 days in the county jail. He will additionally be on 24 months of probation, and he will have to register as a sex offender for at least 10 years. He will also need to undergo a sex offender evaluation.

What is a Sex Offender Evaluation?

April 29, 2022

CPS Security Guard Accused of Sexual Misconduct

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago public schools security guard is facing charges that he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. The guard was suspended pending an investigation and now more allegations have surfaced. The security guard is now facing two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor. The students, who are 15 and 16, say that the security guard touched them inappropriately. Both students were male. The second victim informed his mother of the incident, which is when authorities became involved. They traced their way back to a second victim.

What is Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse?

Aggravated criminal sexual abuse, as opposed to criminal sexual abuse, is sexual abuse plus any one of a number of aggravating circumstances. Aggravating circumstances include the use of a weapon during a sexual assault, the use of drugs to induce a sexual assault, a victim over 60 years of age, or a minor victim when the attacker is an adult. In most cases, aggravated sexual assault is considered a second-degree felony in Illinois. However, when an adult perpetrator and minor victim is involved, it escalates to a class-one felony.

April 6, 2022

Father Convicted in Bizarre Exploitation of College Women

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Larry Ray is going to prison, perhaps for life, after a New York jury convicted him on 15 counts all related to the exploitation and extortion of his daughter’s friends. Ray managed to convince his daughter to allow him to move into the dorms shortly after he was released from prison on a securities fraud conviction.

Ray managed to convince one victim that she had poisoned him and owed him reparations. The woman paid between $10,000 and $50,000 per week to make amends, at one point even performing sex work to make payments. Another woman revealed that her life was turned upside down when she met Ray. She was on track to become a medical doctor when she became romantically involved with him. He would often ask her to have sex with other men while he videotaped it.

The entire scheme appears to have hinged on Ray using a Svengali-like ability to manipulate those around him. Ray was able to convince several students that they had poisoned him after he agreed to let them stay at his apartment. To make amends, they did as Ray asked, including giving him a lot of money, performing yard work, and more.

December 10, 2021

The People v. Ghislaine Maxwell

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

What happens when the main suspect of a prosecution kills himself before he can go to trial? The state will find the next culpable person and nail them to the wall. In terms of Jeffrey Epstein, that person is Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein was accused of running a criminal scheme targeting underage girls for sexual abuse. Epstein would pay the girls for sex, have them tell their friends that he was paying for sex, and the girls would perform sexual favors for Epstein. Maxwell is believed to have helped Epstein organize and hide his activities. The defense claims that they are targeting Maxwell because they no longer have Epstein to convict. While their claim is likely true, it does not mean necessarily that she was not involved in a criminal conspiracy to target underage girls for sexual abuse.

Maxwell is accused of soliciting minors for Epstein during the early ’90s. By the 2000s, Epstein had already employed his pyramid scheme approach which avoided Maxwell’s involvement in recruiting girls to abuse.

Analyzing the Defense Strategy

October 27, 2021

Chicago Parks Boss Faces Charges for Sexual Abuse of Teen Lifeguard

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago government official is being charged with having repeated sexual contact with a 16-year-old lifeguard. The administrator is 32 years old. This is the latest in an evolving scandal involving sexual misconduct against Chicago parks lifeguards, including allegations of sexual abuse and sexual assault. The park official will face two felony counts of criminal sexual assault and abuse of a minor victim. The employee quit his job after he was confronted with allegations of misconduct. He is the fourth park employee to resign over allegations of sexual misconduct this year.

The Bond Hearing

During the defendant’s bond hearing, which was set at $250,000, the attorney moved to reduce the bond amount to a tenth of that number or $25,000. In cases like this, it is typical for the prosecution to move for a very high bond amount. The defense moves to reduce the bond amount to something that is within the defendant’s means. The defense mentions specific aspects of the defendant’s life. This can include the fact that they have no criminal record, are gainfully employed, and have ties to the community. In this case, the prosecution responded to the bond reduction motion by reminding the court that the defendant knew that the victim was underage. Of course, this is simply an element of the crime they have to prove. You must knowingly have sex with someone who is considered a minor. A minor cannot dupe you into having sex by misrepresenting their age. Bond was not, however, reduced in this case. Nonetheless, the judge found that the defendant presented a “clear and present danger” to the community.

October 22, 2021

Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Spa Worker

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A 28-year-old man is facing charges of kidnapping, criminal sexual abuse, and criminal sexual assault after an attack on a spa worker. Police say that the woman was folding towels when the suspect entered the spa and forced her into another room. Video surveillance shows her being grabbed by the hair. A struggle ensued and eventually, the spa worker was able to escape. She called a friend from a nearby alleyway who eventually phoned the police.

Against the advice of his public defender, the suspect admitted to entering the spa but said the worker became upset with him when his credit card was declined after a massage. Video surveillance appears to show a man pulling the victim into a room by the hair. The same video shows the woman leaving the room to phone the police.

Against the advice of his counsel, the defendant will take the position that he was targeted by the complainant because he could not pay for the massage.

October 13, 2021

Gynecologist Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Ever since the Larry Nassar allegations broke, more instances of doctors using the authority of their practice to commit sexual assault against patients have been revealed. USC recently lost a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over allegations that a campus gynecologist assaulted students. Still, other allegations have been made against EMTs who sexually abused patients who were critically ill. Claims have been made against VA doctors for sexual assault of former veterans. And now, a NorthShore University gynecologist has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against former patients.

The victims told police that the former doctor asked them inappropriate questions and touched them inappropriately. The doctor was sentenced to three years in prison with 170 days credited. More victims may have been present at the trial, but as of yet, only two have come forward. One of the victims said she only contacted police after similar allegations against the same doctor appeared on the News. Thus far, this doctor is facing nine civil complaints filed by former patients that he acted inappropriately. NorthShore is also facing allegations that they failed to act on reports of misconduct and allowed other patients to be assaulted.

Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse

August 11, 2021

Teen Found Dead After Sexual Assault

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Two people are facing charges related to sexual assault and the concealment of a dead body. Police have charged a 40-year-old man and an 18-year-old girl with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and manufacturing of child pornography, among other related charges. The 40-year-old man assaulted the teen girl while the 18-year-old videotaped the incident.

Police were called to the scene after an area person called in a body. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene. She was later identified as a girl who had been reported missing.

What Happened?

June 9, 2021

Kelly Attorneys Request to Withdraw Two Months Before Trial

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Kelly’s attorneys have petitioned the court to withdraw from Kelly’s Chicago trial two months before the trial on racketeering charges is set to begin. According to the attorneys, they have asked to withdraw after two junior attorneys demanded a larger role in Kelly’s defense. The attorneys sent a letter to the presiding judge requesting withdrawal from the case. While they did not give their reasons, the letter indicated that it would be “impossible” to continue to represent Kelly.

Essentially, it appears as though two junior attorneys are being given a greater role in the criminal defense of Kelly, much to the chagrin of his head counsel. The judge can decide, if they are so inclined, to deny the request. The attorneys have requested a hearing to address the issue.

That could be the most likely outcome given that numerous delays have resulted in the forestalling of Kelly’s prosecution. It is unclear, however, that Kelly would benefit from another delay, as he has been incarcerated here in Chicago since January. He is currently charged with racketeering, numerous sex crimes, and coercing or influencing witnesses and jurors.

April 30, 2021

Sheriff’s Deputy Cleared of Child Molestation Charges

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A police officer was cleared during a bench trial of all wrongdoing after the daughter of a former girlfriend accused him of inappropriately touching her. A Cook County judge found the officer not guilty. After the charges surfaced, the officer was “de-deputized” and placed on administrative leave without pay. A case to have the officer fired is still pending.

What is a Bench Trial?

A bench trial is a trial that is heard by a professional jurist as opposed to a jury of your peers. Most criminal defendants choose to avoid bench trials preferring to instead roll the dice with the public. However, police officers tend to choose bench trials, especially nowadays, when public sentiment toward police is at an all-time low. Choosing to have your case heard by a judge is an option when you think a professional jurist would be more likely to rule in your favor than a jury of your peers.