Charges dismissed against Chicago man in sexual assault case

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - Charges have been dismissed against a Chicago man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2016 during Illinois State University's orientation event for new students.

Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Alferink said in court that the state was dismissing charges against 19-year-old Shawn Childs Jr. because the woman who accused him decided not to pursue the case, The Pantagraph (http://bit.ly/2uztBVp ) reported.

Childs was charged with sexual assault and abuse of a 19-year-old woman on July 19, 2016. The woman told police she met Childs and his father at a gathering when they went to ISU for Preview Week, a university event for prospective students and their parents.

In November, defense lawyer Stephanie Wong had requested to subpoena the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for the accuser's records, but that request was denied by the state.

Wong said the woman's statements to authorities are inconsistent and that the records could contain information about any previous sexual assault claims made by the woman.

Wong said Childs "is very happy to finally be able to move forward."

"Shawn has always insisted upon his innocence and after putting his life on hold for almost a year, he is very happy to finally be able to move forward." Wong said.

Alferink said while the case was dismissed, she commends "the victim's willingness to report it to the police."

___

Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com