 |
|---|
| Chicago Sergeant Dennis Barnes |
|
Chicago Cop Only Gets 60 Days In Jail For Sexually Assaulting Coworker's 9-Year-Old
WinningDemocrats.com
Thu April 7, 2016
Area: Chicago
A long-serving Chicago police officer has been cleared of felony sexual assault charges that resulted from the molestation of a fellow law enforcement officer's 9-year-old daughter because the judge said he couldn't be certain that he kissed and fondled the girl for his own sexual arousal.
Dennis Barnes, who had been with the Chicago police department for 27 years, was found guilty of misdemeanor battery instead of the felony attempted predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges that were originally brought against him following the disturbing incident.
Judge Charles Burns explained his decision by saying that the prosecution hadn't managed to prove that Barnes had fondled the child for his own sexual arousal, as required by law. Yet, at the same time, Burnes said he had no doubts that "something was going on, and that's something that I find disturbing."
Barnes was sentenced to a mere 60 days in the Cook County Jail and was placed on sex offender probation for two years. He was also ordered to undergo up to two years of sex offender counseling. He was given two weeks before he has to report to jail, but is to be monitored with an ankle bracelet during that time.
The girl's mother, who is also a police officer, said the alleged abuse occurred when she had invited Barnes, who is her supervisor on the police force, to come to her home. She was shocked by the judge's outrageous decision and said she believes he got preferential treatment because he was a cop.
"I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe it because of all the evidence," she said, wiping away tears. "The judge even admitted that it disgusted him, so why would you say it's only a misdemeanor battery?"
According to prosecutors, Barnes "groomed" the girl for the abuse by spending an hour reading to her and allowing her to play on his cell phone. Then, after drinking heavily, he curled up next to her under a blanket on the couch while she and her 15-year-old brother were watching a movie. He began rubbing her feet and legs, then reached up into her shorts to sexually assault her. He also asked her for a "smooch," and when she refused he tuck his tongue on her cheek repeatedly.
The abuse was discovered because the mother walked into the room and her daughter burst into tears before both her children relayed the horror they had just endured. She said that no "normal citizen" would have received such a light sentence for such a heinous crime.
"I mean I've never heard of anybody being charged with two felony sexual charges and then getting a misdemeanor battery," she said. "I've never heard of that, and I've been doing this job a long time."
Barnes and his attorney, Michael Clancy said that he had been drinking all day and even though he really wasn't trying to molest the child, he said he was sorry.
"I'm deeply, deeply regretful," said Barnes, 63. "Whatever it was, was an accident, but I feel sorry for her."
The judge, however, said he wasn't buying that story. "I don't believe this was incidental contact," Burns said. "I don't believe it was an accident." But that didn't stop him from giving Barnes a mere slap on the wrist so he would be free to harm more children.
The girl has been severely traumatized by the attack. She had always been an outgoing child, but now she is withdrawn and anxious. She also suffers from chronic nightmares and bedwetting now. He mother said she went through months of intensive counseling "before finally being able to accept the fact that all policemen aren't monsters." But the child no longer wants to be a police officer herself when she grows up and is still uncomfortable with any cops coming to her home.
Share your thoughts in the Forum
