State's attorney praises young victim for her testimony
A South Elgin man faces between 36 and 120 years in prison after a Kane County jury convicted him late Wednesday of sexually assaulting a girl he knew between January 2007 and February 2008.
William S. Muth, 46, formerly of the 1400 block of Blackhawk Drive, was already serving a three-year prison term for 22 counts of child pornography, when he was convicted of six counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse following a three-day trial.
Judge David Akemann will sentence Muth Aug. 15.
Assistant State's Attorney Christine Bayer, who prosecuted the case with Bill Engerman, said the victim was 5 to 6 years old when the assaults and abuse took place.
Bayer said a key piece of evidence was a recorded statement the girl gave to authorities describing what happened.
“The victim in this case showed great courage in coming forward and testifying publicly, in front of a jury,” Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said. “I can only imagine that doing so was extremely difficult, and she deserves immense praise and credit. We are and we always will be buoyed and humbled by the strength shown by the victims of these appalling and selfish crimes, and we always will stand with these victims.”
Kathleen Colton, Muth's defense attorney in the assault case, declined to comment on the verdict.
Muth was convicted of child pornography possession in October 2010 and sentenced in spring 2011.