Pedophile From Channahon Not Ready For Prison Release

JOLIET, IL - Attorneys for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan have successfully petitioned Will County's judicial system to stop a dangerous convicted child molester, formerly of Channahon, from returning to society. In 2003, Timothy R. Piper, then 32, pleaded guilty in Will County to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault against children. Will County Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes sentenced Piper to 30 years of imprisonment for each count. However, his sentences ran concurrent, which means at the same time. Factoring in his good time prison credit and his time in county lockup awaiting trial, Piper was set to be paroled from the Illinois Department of Corrections later this month.

However, Madigan's office filed a petition at the Will County Courthouse seeking what's known as a sexually violent person commitment. Piper, who has been incarcerated at the Pinckneyville Correction Center, was evaluated and diagnosed by psychologist Dr. Mark Kuzia as having the following disorders: pedophilia, sexual arousal by exposing genitals to prepubescent children in a controlled environment, exhibitionist disorder and antisocial personality disorder, court filings show.

Piper, who committed his sexual abuse crimes against adolescent children in Shorewood, "suffers from one or more mental disorders, which are congenial or acquired conditions affecting (Piper's) emotional or volitional capacity that predispose (him) to commit acts of sexual violence," Assistant Attorney General Christelle Perez wrote the judge.

Piper was familiar with the children, ages 10 and 11, that he victimized in 2003, court papers indicate.

"The victim told her mother that Mr. Piper touched her three times. When the Shorewood Police Department contacted the Channahon Police Department, the Channahon police informed them that Mr. Piper had been involved in an incident in a tanning salon where he was caught peeking over a partition and looking at someone tanning in the nude," court filings show.

In 2003, police investigators obtained a disk that had nude photos of Piper, including close-up photos of his penis. "There were also several pictures showing a young girl holding up her shirt and exposing her breasts," court papers state. "When the victim was interviewed further about these pictures, she recalled that Mr. Piper told her that he had 'a deal' with someone that required him to take some pictures."

When Piper was interviewed by Shorewood Police in 2003, he showed up with his criminal defense attorney, and "adamantly denied ever touching, fondling or inappropriately grabbing the victim. He denied ever seeing the victim naked or in a state of undress," the filings reflect.

At last week's civil commitment hearing, the case went before Judge Dave Carlson, who ruled in favor of Madigan's office. "The state has sustained their burden. Probable cause found," court records state.

As a result, Piper, now 47, has been ordered to remain under the supervision of the Department of Human Services.

The next hearing on Piper's civil commitment order is set for Aug. 17, before Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak.

Piper's projected discharge date remains unknown.

Mugshots of Timothy R. Piper via Illinois Department of Corrections