Joseph J. Spaeth - Repeat Sex Offender - Habitual

A convicted sex offender will spend time in prison for offenses he committed in 2006.

Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge William Carver sentenced Joseph J. Spaeth, 41, Friday to five years in prison followed by 10 years of extended supervision on four counts of child enticement for sexual contact as a persistent repeater.

According to the criminal complaint, Spaeth inappropriately touched three children ages 3, 6, and 7 in February 2006. Court records show Spaeth was previously convicted of sexual assaults in 1991 and 1993.

A Winnebago County Jury that heard the case in July 2007 convicted Spaeth of four counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child and he was sentenced to four life terms.

However, Carver vacated the sentence and granted Spaeth a new trial because extraneous information that was "highly prejudicial" was introduced into the jury room during deliberations. The jury had asked to look at a statement Spaeth gave to police and a juror recognized the address on the statement and informed the other jurors a registered sex offender resided there.

Spaeth pleaded no contest to the amended charge of child enticement in March.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte