27 years for Palatine man who admitted sexually assaulting girl
Posted January 16, 2018 12:00 am
A Palatine man caught performing a sex act on a 12-year-old girl last October pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault Tuesday.
Barnassey Thomas, who last November indicated he would represent himself against the charges, was sentenced to 27 years in prison in exchange for his guilty plea, according to court records.
Thomas, 35, must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Upon his release, he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Shilpa Patel.
During his bond hearing last October, prosecutors said that when officers tried to arrest him, Thomas held a pocketknife to his own throat, refusing officers' instructions to drop the knife.
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