Fox Lake Man Gets 7.5 Years For Criminal Sexual Assault Of Child

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Patrick D. Kenneally, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announced Tuesday a Fox Lake man has been sentenced for the offense of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, stemming from an investigation into an incident that was reported to have taken place between July 2013 and July 2014. According to a release, Kenneally announced 28-year-old Austin M. Billa has been sentenced to 7.5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense. McHenry County State's Attorney's Office said Billa will have to serve 85 percent of the sentence, according to truth in sentencing guidelines.

According to a release from McHenry County State's Attorney's Office, Billa committed an act of sexual penetration on the female victim who was under 13 at the time of the offense, between July 2013 and July 2014.

On December 10, 2018, Billa entered a guilty plea before the Honorable Judge Robert A. Wilbrandt, officials said, adding that the case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Victor Escarcida, and the investigation was led by Detective Klem of the Lake in the Hills Police Department.

Photo of Billa provided by McHenry County State's Attorney's Office