Chicago Man Faces Prison After Sexual Assault Conviction
A Chicago man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman shortly after he met her at a gathering of friends.
Stephawn A. Johnson, 22, of the 200 block of North Homan Avenue, Chicago, was convicted Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, by a Kane County jury of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony, and criminal sexual abuse, a Class 4 felony.
Stephawn A. Johnson (Credit: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office Facebook page.)
Kane County prosecutors presented evidence that the evening of May 9, 2015, Johnson was at a gathering at his grandmother’s Aurora home. Three other men and a woman, the victim, were present. Early the next morning, May 10, Johnson took the victim’s date and one other person home, leaving the victim at his grandmother’s house. Johnson returned and he and the co-defendant sexually assaulted the victim.
Johnson remains in custody at the Kane County jail, where he has been held since his arrest in lieu of $250,000 bail. Bond was revoked upon conviction.
Johnson’s next court date is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 19, 2016, to set a sentencing date.
In addition to his sentence, Johnson must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.
The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Christine Bayer and Matthew Rodgers.
“The victim in this case showed an immense amount of courage in coming forward to describe her assault. Her willingness to speak out will no doubt prevent other women from being sexually assaulted by this defendant,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.
Co-defendant Andres Fonseca, 22, of Aurora, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony, criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony, and other related charges. He is set to stand trial beginning Nov. 14, 2016, in Courtroom 305 at the Kane County Judicial Center.
The charges against Fonseca are not proof of guilt. Fonseca is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release. To follow news releases directly from the SAO, visit the State’s Attorney’s website and Facebook page.
