Rochelle man sentenced to probation for sexual exploitation of a child – Shaw Local

OREGON – A Rochelle man found guilty of sexual exploitation of a child in 2022 was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation.

Dennis A. Sage, 69, was found guilty of the crime after a one-day trial on May 1 before Judge John “Ben” Roe, who made his decision on May 24.

Sage was charged with knowingly enticing, coercing or persuading a girl to remove her clothing for his own sexual arousal or gratification on or about June 1 to June 30, 2022. Roe found Sage not guilty of three similar charges on separate dates in 2021 and 2022. .

Roe lifted the sentence Wednesday after Sage’s attorney, Eric Arnquist, and Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten said they had agreed on a sentence for the crime.

During the May 1 trial, the girl, who was 9 at the time of the offense, testified that Sage told her he needed to examine her to see if she was cleaning properly after going to the bathroom. She also said Sage told her to keep “it” a secret.

Rochelle Police Detective Elvis Baneski interviewed Sage and in one of the recorded interviews, Sage said he was just trying to teach the girl good hygiene.

Sage claimed he “didn’t touch her or anything” and told police he had not raised his concerns about her cleanliness with her mother, aunt or grandmother, and had not raised the issue with other family members because he was concerned about his “intentions would be misunderstood.”

He also admitted that he once got “half-excited” but immediately “shut it down.”

Brandon Gecan, Sage’s trial attorney, argued that his client was only concerned about the girl’s hygiene. He said prosecutors had not proven Sage had done anything for his own sexual gratification.

“We do have a victim impact statement,” says Leisten, who did not read the statement in open court.

Before approving the sentencing agreement, Roe said he received the sex offender evaluation conducted in July and Sage’s attendance report.

“I also reviewed the victim impact statement and it has been filed and sealed,” Roe said.

The terms of probation require Sage to submit to DNA testing within 45 days, as directed by the Ogle County Probation Office, and complete any psychological assessments or treatment required by the probation department.

He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim and imposed fines and fees totaling $1,884.

Sexual exploitation of a child is a Class 4 felony punishable by up to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, as well as probation.