35 years for Hoffman Estates man convicted of sexual abuse, child pornography
Many longtime friends of John Agresta thought they could trust him with their children.
They were wrong.
On Monday, the 45-year-old Hoffman Estates man pleaded guilty in a Rolling Meadows courtroom to molesting a friend’s minor child, and photographing and videotaping that child and several others over the course of several years. In exchange for his guilty plea to the Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual assault and the Class 1 felonies of child pornography, Cook County Judge Ellen Mandletort sentenced Agresta to a total of 35 years in prison: 25 years for the sexual assault and 10 years for each of the pornography charges.
Mandletort ordered the sentences on the lesser charges be served concurrently, but consecutively to the 25-year sentence.
She also indicated that Agresta faces similar charges in Kendall County which could result in another 10-year sentence, bringing the total number of years he faces in the Illinois Department of Corrections to 45.
Agresta, who received credit for the 237 days he has been in custody since his arrest, must complete 85 percent of the 25-year sentence and 50 percent of the 10-year sentence before he is eligible for parole. He must also register as a sex offender upon his release.
The molestation took place while the victim was a guest at the defendant’s home in the 1800 block of Huntington in Hoffman Estates, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Poje during Monday’s hearing. On July 12, 2011, the victim alerted his parents who immediately contacted police who recovered dozens of digital photographs, Poje said.
On July 21, 2011, police executed a search warrant at Agresta’s home, where they recovered video of two other victims from a recorder hidden in clock radio located in the bathroom. At the time, they also recovered photographs of another victim, Poje said, adding that in each case, Agresta was a friend of the family.
Poje informed the court that the sexual abuse took place between 2009 and 2011, while the pornography charges date from March 2000 to December 2005 and from January 2004 through November 2010.
Agresta, who said he underwent a religious conversion last year, expressed remorse for the victims and their families.
“I would like to express how sorry I am,” said Agresta, who said he hoped one day they will forgive him.
Parents of the victims, who currently range in age from 12 to 20 years, attended the sentencing. Although they commended Cook County prosecutors and the Hoffman Estates and Oswego police departments, at least one mother said she doesn’t believe the victims will ever really receive justice.
“Nothing can give these kids back what (Agresta) took from them,” she said.
“He (Agresta) earned our trust through our friendship with each other,” said another mom who doubts she will ever be able to truly trust anyone again.
“My son is a hero,” said the first mom. “He blew the whistle on something nobody knew.”