Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sex Assault of Child

A 36-year-old Carol Stream man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury found him guilty on several child sex assault charges.

Joel Augustine, of Thornhill Drive in Carol Stream, is accused of sexually abusing and taking lewd photographs of a young girl between September 2009 and October 2012, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office press release.

The girl was the 12-year-old daughter of his girlfriend and the assaults occurred at the home Augustine shared with his girlfriend and two daughters, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Augustine also took photos of the girl in various stages of undress as well as one pornographic photo.

A jury found Augustine guilty on April 22 of two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, three counts of criminal sexual assault and one count of child pornography.

“For more than three years, this young victim was forced to live under the same roof as her attacker,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. “I can only imagine the fear and horrors she had to face on a daily basis in the form of Joel Augustine.”

Berlin lauded the victim for coming forward to report the sexual assaults.

“Through this ordeal however, she managed to find the strength and courage to confront Mr. Augustine and help us put an end to his reign of terror,” Berlin said. “She is a remarkable young girl and it is my sincerest hope that she will recover fully from the emotional and physical harm Mr. Augustine has so mercilessly inflicted upon her.”