Former North Aurora man acquitted of child assault

A former North Aurora man was acquitted by a Kane County judge this week on charges he sexually assaulted 5-year-old foster child.

If convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault, Darrell E. Beck, 45, who now lives in Champaign, could have faced up to 30 years in prison.

After a two-day bench trial, Judge David Akemann issued a not-guilty verdict.

Defense attorney Marc Wolfe said his client was “pleased” with Akemann's verdict.

“That was absolutely the appropriate ruling. That's the bottom line,” Wolfe said. “As you can well imagine, (Beck) denies (the charges) vehemently.”

Beck was accused of assaulting the boy in a first floor bathroom of Beck's former home on the 200 block of West Arrowhead Street in North Aurora between October 2006 and June 2007, according to court documents.

Beck, who was charged in early 2008, is set to stand trial July 9 in Kane County that he assaulted another boy during the same time frame, also at Beck's former home.

The boys are now 11 and 10, according to court documents filed last November.

A message left for Assistant State's Attorney Lori Schmidt was not immediately returned.

Despite the not guilty verdict, the Kane County State's Attorney's Office has indicated it plans to move forward on the second set of charges.

Beck is free on bond while his case is pending.

Wolfe said he could not comment on the second case because it is still pending.