Convicted Child Molester Rickie Brownson Sentenced To Prison

JOLIET, IL — Rickie Brownson, a 24-year-old Joliet man who is a Liberian immigrant, was sentenced Wednesday by Will County Judge Carmen Goodman to 26 years of prison time in connection with the sexual assaults of three 8-year-old girls from Joliet and Bolingbrook.

On March 19, Brownson was found guilty of three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and two counts of criminal sexual assault, prosecutors said. The sexual abuse happened in 2012.

According to Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow, Brownson began engaging in sex acts with three 8-year-old girls at their residences in Joliet and Bolingbrook soon after he arrived in the United States in July 2012 and Brownson continued molesting the victims until January 2013. Brownson previously had been found guilty after a jury trial and sentenced to 38 years in jail, but the case was retried after the verdict was overturned on appeal because of issues relating to the voir dire of potential jurors.

"No prison sentence can undo the damage to these young victims caused by Brownson’s sickening conduct, but at least they can now move forward knowing that he is behind bars,” Glasgow said.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office said that Brownson was sentenced to six years of prison time for each of the three Class X aggravated criminal sexual assault counts, and four years on each of the criminal sexual assault counts, to be served consecutively.

He will receive credit for 2,296 days of time served. Will County Jail records indicate that Brownson lived in the 2200 block of Joliet's Tamarack Drive.

Glasgow thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Mark Fleszewski and Mary Fillipitch, director of victim witness services Nichole Pasteris, and Gus Martinucci who provided audio and video assistance, for their hard work and dedication, Wednesday's news release noted.