States Attorney
Chicago Man Sentenced to 101 Years for Sexual Assault
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that Edward Smith, Jr., 32 (d.o.b. 11/06/74), of 1823 S. Keeler in Chicago was sentenced today to 101 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the sexual assault and brutal beating of his former girlfriend. The victim had a five-year relationship with Smith and they have two children together. At the time of the assault, Smith was the subject of an Order of Protection which ordered him to have no contact with his victim. The sentence was handed down by Judge Mark Dwyer after a six-day long jury trial.
On June 3, 2002, after a bench trial, Judge Ann Jorgensen found Smith guilty of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Battery, Armed Violence and Unlawful Restraint. In her ruling, Judge Jorgensen also found that the State had proven the defendant’s conduct was exceptionally brutal, indicative of wanton cruelty, which made him eligible for an extended prison term of up to 120 years. On March 14, 2003, Judge Jorgensen sentenced Smith to four consecutive 25-year terms for each of the Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault convictions, totaling 100 years. Upon appeal however, the Court’s guilty findings were overturned because of fitness issues and a new trial was ordered.
On February 10, 2007, a jury once again found Smith guilty in the case. In all, Smith was found guilty of: four counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class X Felony, four counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class 1 Felony, one count of Aggravated Domestic Battery, a Class 2 Felony, three counts of Aggravated Battery, a Class 3 Felony, one count of Unlawful Restraint, a Class
4 Felony and one count of Armed Violence, a Class 2 Felony. The jury further found that Smith’s conduct was exceptionally brutal, indicative of wanton cruelty.
Today, Judge Dwyer sentenced Smith to 24 years on each of the Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault charges totaling 96 years. This sentence is consecutive to the 5 year sentence imposed on the Armed Violence Charge. The sentences on the remaining charges will be served concurrently with the 96-year sentence. In addition, pursuant to State statute, Smith will be required to serve 85% of the Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault sentence.
“While we were disappointed that the case was overturned several years ago, we were confident that this trial would result in the same outcome – a lengthy prison sentence for Mr. Smith,” remarked Birkett. “I would like to thank the victim in this case for the strength and courage she displayed in confronting her attacker and for having to re-live this horrible episode in her life once again.”
On October 14, 2000, Smith, despite the Order of Protection against him, arrived at his victim’s home in unincorporated Lombard. As his victim was preparing to go to work, Smith convinced her to allow him to take her to work and drop the two children off at daycare. Fearful that he would become violent again if she refused, she agreed. After dropping off the children however, Smith attacked his victim, hitting her about the upper body with a long metal tool. Smith then took his victim to a forest preserve where the beating continued and then to the Morton Arboretum where he beat and sexually assaulted her. Smith then drove to his mother’s home in Chicago and forced his victim into the basement where he continued to beat her, this time with dumbbells. Additionally, Smith sprayed window cleaner in his victim’s mouth and forced her to eat garbage and clumps of hair that he had pulled from her head. Smith then took his victim back to her house where she escaped when her mother unexpectedly returned. Her mother then took her to Good Samaritan Hospital and law enforcement personnel were immediately contacted.
“The pain, suffering and torture that Mr. Smith inflicted upon his victim are beyond belief,” commented Birkett. “He repeatedly beat and sexually assaulted her. He forced her to drink poison. He showed no mercy toward her and no regard for human life. Today’s sentence reflects the horrific nature of this crime. In attacking his victim, Mr. Smith was intent on delivering as much physical and emotional pain as possible and for that he will now spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
###
