Lincoln man sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences for sexually assaulting two children Codefendant sentenced to ten years imprisonment for permitting the sexual abuse of two children

 

[August 08, 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.

The case started in March of 2021 when the Lincoln Police responded to a domestic violence incident between Benjamin McBroom and Sadie Johnson (d.o.b.: 8-10-89). During the investigation, it was learned that children were present in the home during the dispute. Two of the children were interviewed by the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center and disclosed that they had been physically and sexually assaulted by McBroom. The investigation also revealed that Sadie Johnson knew about the sexual assaults. In June of 2021, Benjamin McBroom and Sadie Johnson were arrested and charged with committing various sex crimes against the children. Prior to McBroom’s trial, Johnson agreed to testify against McBroom and pled guilty to two counts of Permitting the Sexual Abuse of a Child, each a Class 1 felony.

During a three-day trial, Logan County State’s Attorney Bradley M. Hauge presented evidence that for almost two years McBroom repeatedly sexually assaulted the two children, who were 4 and 6 when the crimes began.

On June 28, 2024, Judge Jonathan Wright sentenced Sadie Johnson to 10 years imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Pursuant to Illinois law, Johnson must serve at least 50% of her sentence, followed by one year of mandatory supervised release, and upon her release, she must register as a sex offender. Johnson was given 1,107 days credit toward her sentence for the time she spent in pre-trial detention.

On July 31, 2024, Judge Jonathan Wright sentenced Benjamin McBroom to seven consecutive life sentences. According to Illinois law, McBroom will never be eligible for release from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Benjamin McBroom has twice changed his name and has previously been known as Benjamin Springer and Benjamin Sangraal. In 2011, McBroom (then Sangraal) was charged and eventually convicted of attempted child pornography and child pornography; however, in 2015 his convictions were overturned on appeal. Since 2015, he changed his name from Sangraal to McBroom, lived in Lincoln, and was most recently self-employed as a painter for Cru Paintings.

“As I have said before, 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. McBroom’s actions were pure evil. 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 McBroom for the monster he is and hopefully it sends a message that these types of crimes will not be tolerated in Logan County.”
 

[Bradley Hauge
Logan County State's Attorney]