11 years prison for former Elgin man guilty of child sexual assault from decade ago

A former Elgin man was sentenced this week to 11 years in prison after his conviction earlier this year of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child younger than 13 from April 2009 through October 2010.

James J. Boots, 50, now of Freeport, must serve 85% of his sentence, or a little over nine years, and must register as a sex offender for life.

Kane County Judge D.J. Tegeler, who found Boots guilty in a January bench trial, issued the sentence Thursday. Boots faced a sentence ranging from six to 30 years in prison and gets credit for about 28 months being held at the Kane County jail while the case was pending.

"Jamie Boots caused great harm to this victim, and yet when given the opportunity to accept responsibility, he engaged in victim blaming and minimized her behavior," State's Attorney Joe McMahon said. "I am pleased that justice has been served in this case and hope this prison sentence is a big step toward healing for this victim.".

Kane County prosecutors presented evidence that between April 2009 and October 2010, Boots sexually assaulted the victim, who he knew and was younger than 13 years old at the time. The sexual assaults took place when Boots lived in Elgin and he later moved to Freeport. Boots was arrested and charged in spring 2018.