The People of the State of Illinois, Appellee v. William E. Sargent, Appellant

Summary

The court held that the corroboration rule required reversal of two aggravated criminal sexual abuse convictions and two of three predatory criminal sexual assault convictions involving M.G., because independent evidence corroborated only one act of anal penetration and none of the alleged penile touching. The court also held that the unpreserved failure to give the statutorily required hearsay instruction did not constitute plain error because the evidence was not closely balanced and the omission did not seriously threaten the fairness or integrity of the trial. The remaining convictions and natural-life sentence were left undisturbed, and the appellate court's modification making the seven-year sentences concurrent was affirmed. No separate opinions were filed.