Sex offender placed on probation for four years

A 64-year-old Wildwood man was placed on probation for four years Thursday after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a resident of Winchester House in Libertyville.

Duane Stapher, of 18590 W. Country Lane, also pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charged filed against him for being naked in his backyard.

Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue said Stapher was a boarder in the house of an 82-year-old woman in 2006 before she became a resident of Winchester House.

During October and November of last year, LaRue said, Stapher visited the woman on several occasions and inappropriately touched her during the visits.

LaRue said the woman suffers from dementia and is not legally competent to consent to sexual activity.

Stapher told his therapist about the incidents, LaRue said, and the therapist called Libertyville police.

Stapher also admitted the incidents to investigators during questioning, LaRue said.

He was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

While Stapher was out on bond on that charge, one of his neighbors called police on June 13 and reported that Stapher was walking around in his backyard while naked.

Stapher was then charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

In addition to the probation, Circuit Judge George Bridges ordered Stapher to complete any counseling programs his probation officer recommends and required him to perform 200 hours of community service.

Stapher is also barred from having any contact with Winchester House, the victim in the case, or any woman over the age of 80 while on probation.