Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Joseph Stozek, 39, of Matteston, pled guilty recently to one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child (a Class X Felony, Category A) in front of Circuit Judge Vincent Cornelius. Stozek was sentenced to 34 years in prison and lifetime registration as sexual predator. He also will receive three years to lifetime mandatory supervised release.
Stozek’s charges stemmed from sexual acts with a minor less than 13 years of age that occurred in Steger. In the forensic interview conducted at the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, the victim described abuse occurring over a three-year period, when she was eight-to-10 years old. The victim and her caretaker gave victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing.
“The depravity that would lead an individual to violate the innocence of a little girl, who has not even reached puberty, is simply incomprehensible,” Glasgow said. “Sadly, approximately one-in-four girls and one-in-six boys are sexually abused before they reach the age of 17. About one million children are sexually abused in this nation each year. This is a critical public health issue of epidemic proportions.”
Glasgow commended Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Brown, Victim Witness Advocate Danette Pasdertz, and the Steger Police Department for their dedication and commitment in this case. He also thanked individuals from the CAC, who greatly assisted in this matter, including Jaclyn Lundquist for the sensitive forensic interview she conducted, as well as Senior Family Advocate Sara Ruzevich Innocenti and Senior Trauma Therapist Lorraine Guerrero Neumayer. Glasgow also noted the important role played by the CAC’s therapy dog, Kiwi, who sat with the girl before her forensic interview and at court before her statement.