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Lincoln man found guilty of
sexually assaulting two children
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[May 30, 2024]
 On
May 23, 2024, a Logan County jury found Benjamin McBroom (d.o.b.:
5-23-85), of the 600 block of Sherman Street, Lincoln, Illinois,
guilty of seven counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a
Child, each a Class X felony.
During a three-day trial, Logan County State’s Attorney Bradley M.
Hauge presented evidence that for almost two years, McBroom
repeatedly engaged in the sexually assault of two of his
girlfriend’s children, who were 4 and 6 when the crimes began.
Pursuant to Illinois law, sentences for Predatory Criminal Sexual
Assault of a Child are mandatory consecutive to any other count, and
because McBroom’s crimes involved two victims under the age of 13,
the penalty for each count is natural life. Meaning, at sentencing,
if the judge finds that each of the counts involved separate acts,
the defendant will be sentenced to seven consecutive natural life
sentences.
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Upon the return of the verdicts,
Judge Jonathan Wright revoked McBroom’s bond and set a
sentencing hearing for July 31ST. McBroom’s bond had previously
been set at one million dollars, and being unable to pay the
required 10%, McBroom had been in custody since his arrest in
June of 2021. McBroom’s bond was set prior to the effective date
of the Pretrial Fairness Act.
“These two children are two of the bravest people I
have met,” said Bradley Hauge. “For two years, they suffered a
tortured existence, and were somehow able to relive that anguish,
face-to-face with their tormentor. The defendant’s actions were pure
evil, and these two were the light in the courtroom. I want to thank
the Lincoln Police Department, the Sangamon County Child Advocacy
Center, and SIU School of Medicine for the incredible work they did
on behalf of the victims. A lot of dedicated individuals who care
deeply about protecting children put a lot of hard work into this
case. I am also grateful to the jury who saw this defendant for what
he is.”
[Bradley Hauge
Logan County State's Attorney] |
