Sheriff Mearl J.

Justus
St. Clair County Sheriff's Department
700 N. 5th Street
Belleville, IL. 62220-4499
(618) 277-3504 X5715

www.sheriff.co.st-clair.il.us
sheriff@norcom2000.com

PRESS RELEASE
December 8th, 2009
Criminal Sexual Assault
On 12-06-09 at 3:00 PM St. Clair County Cencom received a 911 call of a “rape in progress” at an address
in unincorporated Lebanon, IL. Deputies from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department responded and
arrived within 10 minutes. O’Fallon Police, O’Fallon EMS and Dep. Gerry Brown arrived on scene and
found a 39 year old female was being detained in the caller’s son’s bedroom. The parents told law
enforcement they had come home from shopping and found the suspect engaging in mutual intercourse with
their minor son. They called 911 and blocked the door so she could not leave. They immediately
recognized her as their son’s Boy Scout Leader (Troop Committee Member since 2004) from Troop 35 in
O’Fallon, IL.

Dep. Brown took the suspect into custody and Illinois State Police Crime Scene was called to process the
crime scene. The suspect’s vehicle was parked in the driveway and the Sheriff’s Department towed and
impounded the vehicle for evidence. The parents brought their son to a local area hospital for medical
evaluation.

Investigator Michael Hundelt and Investigator Maurice McMiller were called in to investigate the crime.
They conducted interviews with the victim, suspect and family members. They also have conducted several
subsequent interviews with members of Boy Scout Troop 35. As of today’s date no other victims have been
located or came forward. The Boy Scouts of America have been very cooperative with this criminal
investigation.

Today, St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Bob Haida’s Office issued the following charges against the
suspect: CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT (CLASS 1 FELONY)
BOND: $100,000.00
Judge Randy Kelley

Follow up investigation will be conducted including search warrants for the suspect’s DNA sample and for
the suspect’s cell phone records.

THOMAS KNAPP, EXECUTIVE DEPUTY • JAMES LAY, CHIEF DEPUTY • PHIL MCLAURIN, JAIL SUPERINTENDENT
Administration: (618) 277-3505 x5722 • Investigation: (618) 277-3505 x5204 • Jail: (618) 277-3505 x5740
“Other criminal acts of sexual intercourse between the two are being investigated which possibly occurred at
the suspect’s residence and during a camping trip in southern Illinois with the Boy Scouts. This betrayal
from an adult in a leadership position undermines the entire philosophy of the Boy Scouts and everything
they stand for. The local management of the Boy Scouts has been very cooperative with the investigation.”
said Capt. Steve Johnson, Chief Investigator.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

--
Captain Steve Johnson
Chief Investigator
Criminal Investigation Section
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department
618-277-3505 x5715