Area Man Sentenced in 1990s Sexual Assault

A Millington man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a class x felony, from the 1990s, said Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis.

Jeffery J. Carter, 55, of the 200 block of Church Street, Millington, was sentenced on June 17 for a sexual assault of a child that started in the early 1990s up to June 1997 after the victim came forward to investigators in early 2012.

The victim, now 28, told investigators over a series of meetings, interviews and telephone calls that Carter sexually abused her almost every night until 1997.

Carter admitted in interviews with detectives to some of the abuse and said it would happen between three and 12 times per month. He also admitted to performing sexual acts while touching the victim.

Carter stated that he was ashamed, embarrassed and sorry for what he had happened to her, according to the release.  Carter attempted to minimize his actions by stating that perhaps it was her “too tight” clothing, or getting mixed signals from her, or that she just wanted him to touch her. 

He also thought that these constant acts of abuse would “in a goofy way” bring them closer together. 

The sexual abuse started when the victim was seven years old and continued to just before her thirteenth birthday.

“This sentence should serve as a reminder that regardless of how long ago these despicable acts were perpetrated on a young victim, justice will be served,” said State’s Attorney Eric C. Weis.  “If any person has information that any child is or has been sexually abused, they should immediately contact law enforcement.”

Carter will be sentenced to 17 years in the the Illinois Department of Corrections and will also be required to register as a sex offender and will face mandatory supervised release for at least three years upon release from prison.