Elgin man pleads guilty in sex abuse case

A 20-year-old Elgin man has pleaded guilty to battery, which will lead to six years in prison on two unrelated charges.

Tristan Bonds, of 309 Wilcok, had faced charges of criminal sexual abuse of a girl under 13 in May 2005.

Bonds' case was set for a jury trial Monday before Judge Timothy Sheldon, but he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge.

If convicted of criminal sexual abuse, Bonds could have faced up to seven years behind bars.

The guilty plea spared the victim, who knew Bonds, from reliving the assault in front of a judge and jury.

"This was in the best interest of the family," said Assistant State's Attorney Christine Bayer.

The battery charge was only a misdemeanor, but it activated two prison sentences for Bonds, which will be served consecutively.

Bonds was sentenced to 36 months probation for a 2004 residential burglary in Elgin, court records show.

If he failed to complete his probation, he was subject to a four-year prison term.

Bonds also was sentenced to two years in prison for failure to return from furlough in 2005, court records show.

This week's plea also activated that sentence.

Under Illinois law, Bonds is eligible for day-for-day credit on the six-year term.

He also received about eight months credit for time spent at the Kane County jail, meaning he could be released from prison in about 2½ years.