'Cruel Predator' From Shorewood Gets Long Prison Term

JOLIET, IL - Twice this week the Will County State's Attorney's Office secured criminal convictions against dangerous sexual predators. On Friday, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that 60-year-old Thomas Holley, a Shorewood resident, was sentenced to 36 years in prison for the repeated sexual assault of a young girl who would visit his home. The sexual predator pleaded guilty in January to one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X Felony, and one count of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 Felony, the state's attorney office announced.

Holley began victimized the girl when she was eight, prosecutors said. Will County Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes handed down the sentence.

During the execution of a search warrant at Holley’s home, police found cameras, computers, and portable hard drives that were used to record and store digital files of the defendant assaulting the child.

“This truly is one of the most horrific cases of child sexual abuse we have prosecuted in many years,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said in a press release. “Thomas Holley is a dangerously cruel predator who stole this brave little girl’s innocence. He also completely violated the trust of family members who had no idea of his vicious depravity.

"It took tremendous courage for this girl to come forward and tell the truth about the abuse she suffered at his inimical hands. Because of her bravery, Thomas Holley will spend what should be the rest of his life in prison where he can never harm another innocent child.”

The State’s Attorney commended his prosecutor, Kelly Tebo, for securing this sentence, as well as his staff from the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center and his Victim Witness Services Division for their compassion and sensitivity in guiding this survivor and her family through the criminal justice process. The child and her family also relied on the services of Kiwi, a therapy/facility dog in State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Paws 4 Kids pet therapy program, who was available to comfort them throughout the process.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s prosecutors also assisted in this case, retrieving a video from his computers depicting the sexual abuse.

Earlier this week, Glasgow's team also secured a criminal conviction against a dangerous illegal immigrant who was living in Joliet and preying upon women who were using the path near the I&M Canal. That rapist, Miguel Luna, faces between Luna faces between 32 and 80 years in prison when he is sentenced two months from now by Judge David Carlson.

RELATED: Miguel Luna Pleads Guilty To I&M Canal Rapes

Mugshot of Thomas Holley via Will County State's Attorney's Office