Hoffman Estates man gets 50 years for sex assault
A Hoffman Estates man convicted in November of sexually assaulting a woman was sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Ronald F. Smith, 40, entered the Hoffman Estates woman's locked bedroom on April 7, 2015, attempted to restrain her with duct tape and forced her to perform a sex act. He served as his own attorney during the trial and for sentencing.
In a victim impact statement read by Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Jaclyn Lantz, the woman described Smith as "manipulative and self-absorbed."
The victim, who knew her attacker, said Smith humiliated her, took away her sense of security and lowered her self-esteem.
"Mr. Smith has shown no remorse for his malicious actions toward me," she wrote. "I hope he is put away for a long time."
In her statement, the woman expressed fear Smith might target her or her family upon his release.
"I don't want to be afraid for my family or loved ones," she wrote. "I look forward to the reassuring calm" that a lengthy sentence would provide.
Smith's criminal background includes a 1998 robbery conviction for which he was sentenced to 20 years, Lantz said.
Smith received credit for 355 days he has spent in custody since his arrest. He must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole. Cook County Judge James Karahalios ordered him to register as a sex offender upon his release.