Kane County Brothers Sexually Assaulted Same Three Children: Prosecutors

A former Kane County man faces 11 life sentences for repeatedly sexually assaulting the same three children his brother was convicted of assaulting a decade ago, authorities said Friday.

Robert E. Craig, 48, of the 600 block of Hampshire Drive in Hampshire and formerly of Carpentersville, was convicted Thursday of 11 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and six counts of criminal sexual abuse. It took jurors about five hours to reach a verdict.

In 2006, Craig's brother, Richard E. Craig, now 56, was convicted of sexually assaulting the same children, pleading guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Kane County State's Attorney Joseph H. McMahon said.

Robert Craig sexually assaulted three victims -- all siblings -- multiple times between 1999 and 2010, prosecutors said. All three children were under age 13 at the time of the crimes. Craig's older brother sexually assaulted the children during the same time period, according to McMahon. The assaults all took place in Carpentersville.

In 2014, one of the victims told a school counselor that, in addition to being assaulted by Richard Craig, she had also been sexually abused by Robert Craig, McMahon said. The counselor reported the abuse to the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, prompting a new investigation.

A hearing to set Robert Craig's sentencing date is slated for March 9 in Kane County court.

"Craig faces 11 consecutive mandatory natural life sentences," according to McMahon, who said Craig will "live out his life in prison."

Robert E. Craig/Kane County Sheriff's Office