Bond Lowered For 85-Year-Old Vernon Hills Man Accused Of Sexual Assault
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Bond was reduced Friday for the second time this week for a Vernon Hills man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl.
Jacob Hagemann, 85, pleaded not guilty to four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and 17 counts of aggravated sexual assault before Judge Christopher Stride on Tuesday. His attorney, Daniel Zeit, had asked Stride to lower his client's bond from $750,000 to $250,000. Stride reduced Hagemann's bond to $400,000.
His bond was lowered to $250,000 on Friday.
The case was brought before Circuit Judge James Booras on Friday to see if the prosecution and defense were ready to go to trial. Zeit had asked for a speedy trial at Hagemann's arraignment Tuesday.
"My client is 85 years old. He has no criminal history of any kind," Zeit told Booras. "The accusation here is coming from 12 years ago when he was 75 years old."
Hagemann's health is not good, according to Zeit. He also said there have been no allegations against his client for any other alleged sexual abuse or assaults involving any other children.
"He's just an old man who wants to clear his name before he dies," Zeit said. Assistant State's Attorney Tim Niehus said the allegations against Hagemann came out after the victim turned 18. The alleged sexual abuse happened when the victim was in kindergarten and in first or second grade, Niehus said.
He also pointed out that Hagemann confessed to the two incidents to Vernon Hills police and that the facts he gave police supported the victim's.
"He told police the confession after police told him to say he did it and they would let him go," Zeit said. The attorney asked Booras to lower the bond to $250,000. Hagemann's family had "scraped together" the 10 percent needed to bond out Hagemann, Zeit said.
"Who in their right mind would say 'I did this' ... if it weren't true?" Niehus said. "I think bond is low enough as it is."
Booras said he took Hagemann's lack of criminal history and age into account when he reduced the bond amount. He also placed Hagemann on a 24-hour curfew and ordered him not to have any contact with minors.
Hagemann is due back in court for a pretrial hearing Dec. 17. A new trial date for Dec. 28 was scheduled.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
