Lake in the Hills man convicted of fondling 8-year-old girl

A Lake in the Hills man faces up to seven years in prison and a lifetime as a registered sex offender after a jury found him guilty Thursday of a felony charge alleging he intentionally fondled an eight-year-old girl in his home for a sleepover.

The McHenry County deliberated about 5½ hours Thursday afternoon before returning the verdict declaring Scott D. Morgan, 39, guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with the May 9, 2008 incident.

Morgan stared straight ahead as Judge Sharon Prather read the verdict, then began shaking his head 'No' as family members hugged one another in the courtroom gallery behind him.

Morgan will receive either probation or a term of three to seven years in prison when sentenced July 16.

The verdict ends a three-day trial at which county prosecutors said Morgan reached under the girl's pajamas as she laid in his daughter's bed and rubbed her buttocks.

Morgan does not deny touching the girl, but said he touched only her back, and did so in a case of mistaken identity after his daughter asked him to step into her darkened room and give her a back rub.

His attorney, Tom Loizzo, called the verdict a "disappointing decision" for Morgan.

During closing arguments earlier Thursday, prosecutors urged the jury to "listen to a child" when deciding the case and reject Morgan's claim he touched the girl by mistake.

"The defendant needs you to believe something other than the truth in order for him to walk scott-free on this case," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney David Johnston said. "Don't help this defendant pretend that this didn't happen."

Morgan's defense pointed out several possible contradictions in the girl's account, including her statement that "Mr. Morgan rubbed my back" when she first revealed the incident to her mother, and that it may have been accidental.

"Can you convict an innocent man based on the inconsistent statements that have been given?" Loizzo asked jurors. "This truly was a mistake."

Jurors heard testimony Wednesday from both Morgan and his accuser, now 10. She testified that Morgan rubbed her buttocks for about 30 seconds, not even stopping when his daughter told him he was touching the wrong person.

Morgan testified that he mistook his accuser for his daughter in the dark bedroom and never touched the girl below her waist or, as the law requires for a conviction, for sexual gratification.