The Massac County State’s Attorney’s Office has advised that on May 19 a Massac County jury returned a guilty verdict against Nicholas S. Petty for Criminal Sexual Assault. Petty was 36 years of age at the time of the offense and was accused of sexually assaulting a nineteen year female in Metropolis on December 22 of 2017.
Judge William Thurston presided over the trial and the case is set for sentencing on June 28, 2022 at 1pm.
Massac County State’s Attorney Josh Stratmeyer represented the People during the trial and he was assisted by Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Hunter. The case was investigated by the Metropolis Police Department.
Massac County State’s Attorney Josh Stratmeyer said “The investigation by the Metropolis Police Department and the cooperation and assistance by the victim in this case was crucial to the successful prosecution.”
The jury trial began with jury selection on Tuesday May 17 and the parties presented evidence on Wednesday and Thursday. The case was submitted to the jury after closing arguments on Thursday afternoon.
Criminal Sexual Assault is a Class 1 Felony which carries a possible penalty of 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. With certain extended term sentencing enhancements being applicable in this case, the defendant is subject to a possible sentence of 15 to 30 years in the Department of Corrections. The offense is not eligible for probation.
Upon the jury returning the verdict of guilty, the State made a motion for the defendant to be taken into custody and held in jail without bond pending sentencing. The trial judge denied the request and instead placed the defendant on strict home confinement pending sentencing.
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