Man gets jail, probation for sex with minor

A former Grayslake man has been sentenced to a year of periodic imprisonment after pleading guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Billy Jack Tate, 26, formerly of Grayslake, also has been sentenced to 30 months of probation and 200 hours of community service and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years, said Assistant State's Attorney Reggie Matthews.

He is also not allowed to have any contact with anyone under 18 years of age, and have can have no contact with the victim or her family, Matthews said.

Matthews said Tate was at a party in Grayslake with the victim on May 31, 2008, when a neighbor saw Tate having sex with someone on a trampoline in the backyard.

Police were called, Matthews said. During the investigation the next day, the victim admitted to having sex with Tate, but not the previous night.

She said she was a willing participant, but only had sex with Tate inside the house, Matthews said.

Matthews said the teen could not legally consent to having sex because she is only 14 years old. The age of consent in Illinois is 17.

Matthews said Tate was initially charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony that could have put him behind bars for up to seven years. However, a plea agreement with prosecutors reduced the charge to criminal sexual abuse, a Class 4 felony, Matthews said.

Under the terms of periodic imprisonment, Tate will be incarcerated in the Lake County jail when he is not at work, in court or receiving treatment.

Tate is due back in court Jan. 22.