The Truth Is...

The defendant alleged to have sexually assaulted a family member and who is the subject of misleading and distasteful radio ads currently is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony. State’s Attorney James Glasgow never approved a reduction of the charges in this case.

The defendant, who was 18 when the charges were filed, fled to Ethiopia, which has no extradition treaty with the United States and has temporarily blocked efforts by the Will County State ’s Attorney’s Office, working in conjunction with the FBI and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, to return him to Joliet to stand trial. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has secured a $10 million warrant as well as an Interpol Red Corner Notice that will make this defendant subject to arrest and return here for trial should he travel anywhere outside Ethiopia with an extradition treaty.

The reason the defendant was able to flee the country was:

• While the case was being prosecuted by the former state’s attorney, a judge on Oct. 6, 2004 reduced his bond from $4 million (which would have required him to post $400,000 cash to secure his release while awaiting trial) to $100,000, which enabled him to post $10,000 to secure his release.

• One of the prior state’s attorney’s top administrators allowed the defendant to surrender an expired passport.

State’s Attorney Glasgow remains committed to the vigorous prosecution of this defendant on the Class X charge. He is prepared to work with the Ethiopian government or any other foreign government to secure the defendant’s return to Will County.

State’s Attorney Glasgow founded the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 and has committed himself to taking dangerous child predators off our streets. The distasteful and disturbing radio commercial regarding this case is patently false and filled with distortions.