Joliet man gets 86-year sentence for sexually assaulting a child

July 24

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that a Joliet man received an 86-year prison sentence for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old female family member throughout 2003.

Joe E. Duncan, 39, of 2309 Holly Ridge Drive, Joliet, was convicted on 11 counts of criminal sexual assault following a one-week trial in April.

The victim testified during the trial that Duncan regularly sexually assaulted her while her mother worked the night shift at a local telecommunications company. On one occasion, Duncan sexually assaulted the girl in a pool suite at The Sybaris in Frankfort, according to testimony.

Will County Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Goode handed down the sentence Friday after the victim read an emotional statement to the court.  The girl told the court that she kept silent about the sexual abuse and that she became depressed because she thought it would never end.

Joliet police arrested Duncan on Sept. 24, 2003, after he was accused of beating the victim. The girl disclosed the sexual assaults to her mother, who reported them to the police.

The Children’s Advocacy Center, which Glasgow established in 1995, assisted in the investigation and conducted early interviews with the victim to prepare the criminal case.

Glasgow praised the center’s staff as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Fillipitch and Matt Guzman for handling the case with the highest degree of sensitivity.  He also credited Judge Goode for issuing a long sentence that underscores the seriousness of Duncan’s crimes and acknowledges the emotional toll the sexual abuse took on the young girl.

“Duncan likely will spend the rest of his life behind bars,” Glasgow said. “He will never be free to prey on our children again.”