The Attorney General’s office filed a case against a Kewanee man to have him declared a Sexually Violent Person (SVP) and commit him to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) until he no longer meets the criteria of a Sexually Violent Person. James G. James Jr. had a Bench Trial on March 7, 2024, and arguments from both parties on April 5, 2024. On April 5th, Henry County Circuit Court Judge, Colby G. Hathaway, ordered James G. James Jr., 35, to be committed to the custody of IDHS, where he has been detained since May 2020 awaiting his trial.
“The court has found this defendant’s actions continue to present a threat to the community,” Raoul said. “I am committed to protecting Illinois families and communities from those who prey on innocent children.”
According to Raoul, James was convicted in 2009 of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for sexually abusing a two-year-old and a three-year-old. His probation was revoked after he was caught within 500 feet of Kewanee High School as a registered sex offender. James pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison.
In 2013, he was charged with violation of the sex offender registration and sentenced to four years in prison.
After being released from prison, James failed to register as a sex offender and subsequently pleaded guilty to indecent solicitation of a child after contacting an undercover police officer posing as a 15-year-old girl online in 2017 and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act, Raoul’s office files cases seeking to commit offenders to the custody of IDHS. To be committed under the act, a person must have been convicted of a sexually violent offense and suffer from a mental disorder. The Attorney General’s office must also prove that the offender is likely to commit future acts of sexual violence if released from custody. Once committed to IDHS, offenders are reevaluated regularly to determine if they continue to meet the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person.
Assistant Attorneys General David Kalicki and Kellie Van Voorhis handled the case for Raoul’s Sexually Violent Persons Bureau.
