Ex-University of Illinois officer faces sex assault charges

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - A former University of Illinois police officer has been charged with sexual assault, sexual abuse and intimidation for alleged attacks on four women in incidents that date back to June 2012, Champaign County authorities said Thursday.

Jerald E. Sandage, 48, of LeRoy was arraigned on sexual assault, sexual abuse and intimidation in Champaign County Circuit Court. The charges are the latest filed against Sandage. He was charged in December with official misconduct for allegedly using police resources to look up personal information on women, while both on and off duty.

The charges filed Wednesday are the culmination of an investigation that began in the fall of 2018, when one of the alleged victims reported that Sandage had non-consensual sex with her.

Sandage did not enter a plea on the new charges during a court appearance Thursday because of a lack of legal representation. His attorney in the official misconduct case, to which he has pleaded not guilty and posted bond, is not representing him in the new case.

All the incidents for which Sandage is charged allegedly occurred while he was a member of the University of Illinois Police Department, according to prosecutors. Illinois' interim Police Chief Matt Myrick said Sandage's police authority was revoked during an investigation into his actions, with Sandage resigning in February.

Sandage was arrested Wednesday and is being held in lieu of $3 million bond in the Piatt County Jail.

Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said the criminal-sexual-assault charges are Class 1 felonies carrying potential penalties of between four and 15 years in prison. If convicted, Sandage would have to serve consecutive sentences.