James G. Roberts
SALINE CO., Ill. — James G. Roberts, 71, of Eldorado has been sentenced to 17 years in prison on sex charges.
Press information from the Saline County State’s Attorney’s office indicates that Roberts was sentenced in Saline County court on Thursday by Judge Walden E. Morris. He entered a plea of guilty to one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child, and to two counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.
Roberts’ sentence also includes a term of mandatory supervised release which can range from three years to life. Roberts will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Roberts’ arrest and charges, dating back to early 2013, was the source of much controversy and division in Eldorado, where he’d lived for a number of years and, according to family of his victims, “befriended” people so he could get close to their small children. When one brave young boy came forward in March of 2013 telling his mother what Roberts had done to him and to his sister, the mother turned the information over to authorities and a firestorm ensued, even after more victims were reported, as Roberts’ family members located in other parts of the country were viscerally coming to his defense, in one case even threatening Disclosure.
The investigation in this case was led by Illinois State Police Special Agents Rick White and Stacy Kinter, and Saline County Deputy Jerod Campbell. The successful prosecution of Roberts was handled by Assistant State’s Attorneys Amanda Moore and Eva Walker.