Champaign police officer waives jury in sex assault case
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - A Champaign police officer charged with sex crimes involving three women in two counties has waived his right to a jury trial in one of the cases, which was set to start this week.
The (Champaign) News-Gazette (bit.ly/1VG73N8 ) reports that 31-year-old Jerad Gale made the request in a Piatt County case on Friday. He's charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault involving a 27-year-old woman with whom he lived in Monticello in a trial scheduled to begin Monday.
Defense attorney Evan Bruno declined to discuss whether Gale and local prosecutors are discussing a plea deal in lieu of a trial.
The 2014 Champaign police officer of the year is also charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated domestic battery against former girlfriends in two separate Champaign County cases.