Last of co-defendants in 2010 kidnapping, beating sentenced to 25 years

Juan Gilbert

Online Staff Report

Juan Gilbert, 25, was sentenced Aug. 17 by Judge John Truitt to 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of aggravated criminal sexual assault. The defendant pled guilty to the offense July 9.

Nov. 10, 2010, the victim was driven to a gas station where Gilbert got into the car. The victim was driven the St. Edward’s Church parking lot, where the defendant and co-defendants — Aaron Clark, Alex Crossen and Sheldon Baxter — approached the car and dragged the victim out of the car, placing him into a nearby van.

The defendant and co-defendants then drove to a residence on Seventh Avenue, where they were joined by co-defendant Justin Keenan. Together, they took the victim inside the residence, where they held him against his will, punching and kicking him in the face, ribs and legs, and sexually assaulted him.

After an extensive beating, they drove the victim to the back of LT’s Bar and dropped him off. The victim went to the hospital and was treated for a broken nose as well as other injuries received from the beating.

Aggravated criminal sexual assault is a X felony with a sentencing range of six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections to be followed by three years to life of mandatory supervised release and a lifetime registration as a sex offender.

Gilbert was the last of the co-defendants to be sentenced in this case.

Aaron Clark was convicted of aggravated kidnapping Nov. 28, 2011, and was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Justin Keenan pled guilty to the offense of aggravated kidnapping and was sentenced July 19 to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Sheldon Baxter pled guilty to the offense of aggravated kidnapping and was sentenced July 19 to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Alex Crossen pled guilty to the offense of aggravated kidnapping and was sentenced Aug. 9 to 21 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Posted Aug. 20, 2012