24 Years In Prison For Man Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Young Child In Lake In The Hills

By Sam Borcia, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner:

A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a young child in Lake in the Hills.

Steven D. West, 38, of the 0-99 block of East Camp McDonald Road in Prospect Heights, was charged with four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13 and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 18.

The Lake in the Hills Police Department arrested West in March 2020 after a warrant had been issued.

A bill of indictment alleged that West sexually abused and sexually assaulted a young girl, under the age of 13, on several occasions between 2010 and 2013.

West initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, court records show.

On Monday, West entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

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He pleaded guilty to one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13, a Class X felony, in exchange for his other charges being dismissed.

McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge approved the plea deal and sentenced West to 24 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

West had faced up to 60 years in prison for the Class X felony conviction.

West remains held in the McHenry County Jail awaiting transport to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The case was investigated by members of the Lake in the Hills Police Department and prosecuted by Tyler Mikan of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.