Mother pleads guilty to obstructing justice during investigation into the sexual assault of her daughter

March 5

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Tuesday that a Wilmington woman has pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing justice and concealing a fugitive in the investigation into the sexual assault of her disabled daughter in 2005.

Kimberly A. Riordan, 33, of the 300 block of North First Street, Wilmington, entered a blind plea to both charges Tuesday afternoon. She faces between one and six years in prison when she is sentenced before Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak on May 14. Probation is also a possible sentence.

The charges allege Riordan gave false information to Detective Dave Margliano, who was investigating whether her daughter had been sexually assaulted by a caregiver. The charges also allege that the caregiver, Lawrence Southwood, gave Riordan $10,000 not to report the sexual assault.

Margliano, one of the state’s attorney’s investigators, launched the investigation after receiving information from a source that Southwood was sexually assaulting the girl.

Southwood, 69, who cared for the girl while her mother was away, was sentenced to 104 years in prison for his crime. He sexually abused the girl on at least three occasions between August and December of 2005.

The state’s attorney’s office last week dismissed one count alleging criminal neglect of a disabled person against Riordan. To prove the allegations in that count, the state would have had to call the victim as a witness. The girl already testified against Southwood during his trial last year.

The girl is under the care and supervision of The Department of Children and Family Services, Catholic Charities and a Court-Appointed Special Advocate, all of whom report that requiring her to testify against the defendant in this second case would cause extreme stress and psychological damage.

The case against Riordan is being prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Lea Norbut, chief of the criminal division, and Tina Brault, who heads the juvenile division.