Staunton Man gets 10-year sentence for sex crime

On Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, Macoupin County State’s Attorney, Jordan Garrison, announced that a former Staunton man has been sentenced to ten years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). A jury found him guilty of a Class one felony being one count of criminal sexual assault of a relative.

Dillard J. Dehart, Jr. is currently 66 years old and was found guilty at a jury trial in front of Judge Joshua A. Meyer, who handed down the sentence. Dehart was arrested on Feb. 23, 2022, and has remained in custody since that time.

In Feb. of 2022, a minor reported she has been inappropriately touched by Dehart. At trial it was shown Dehart was a relative of the minor and assaulted her in his bedroom. The minor was able to record part of the assault which was played for the jury. An interview of Dehart was played for the jury where Dehart admitted the video taken by the minor showed his room, but denied he assaulted the minor. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning the guilty verdict.

“A child should feel safe in their own home and Mr. Dehart abused this position of trust in the worst possible way,” said Garrison. “I thank the Macoupin County Sheriff ’s Office, the Carlinville Office of the Department of Children and Family Services, and Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle Frericks for their efforts on behalf of the victim.”

Dehart will not be eligible for parole until after his 73rd birthday.