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DATELINE: Kankakee, IL — Richard E. Jacklin, a Catholic priest, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Kankakee County court Thursday after being convicted of sexually assaulting a Shapiro Developmental Center resident in 2017. Jacklin was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual assault and sexual misconduct during his jury trial in September 2022.

A Shapiro employee testified they walked into a room and saw Jacklin performing oral sex on the victim. “We learned that after he walked out of the room, the defendant said, ‘I’m in trouble, aren’t I?’” Kankakee County Circuit Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott said.

Father Jacklin’s defense was that the victim forced him to perform oral sex. Court records indicate the victim has an IQ of 47, has been a resident at Shapiro since 2010 and suffers from partial paralysis.

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL

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