Gacy nephew convicted of sex assault of 12-year-old girl

7-29-2012 Illinois:

Raymond Kasper, the nephew of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, was convicted in McHenry County today of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, even though she denied the attacks from the witness stand.

A jury took three hours to find Kasper, of Marengo, guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was found not guilty of one count of sexual assault.

Kasper shook his head as the verdict was read while his sister Kimberlee Kasper sobbed from the courtroom gallery. His bond was revoked at the request of prosecutors and he was immediately taken into custody. Prosecutor Michael Combs said Kasper faces 21 to 120 years in prison at his Sept. 28 sentencing.

Kimberlee Kasper and her brother’s attorney, Michael Barrett, said the verdict will be appealed.

"We as a family are absolutely appalled at this decision," Kimberlee Kasper said outside the courtroom, standing with Barrett and Raymond Kasper's eldest son Steven Kasper, 23. "You should not be judged by who your family is."

Steven Kasper said: "We will seek the truth."

During closing arguments Friday morning, a prosecutor said the victim, who is not related to Kasper, was groomed and assaulted at least three times. The girl has recanted her claims and testified that they the abuse did not happen “for real,” though a doctor testified her who examined her said she bore wounds consistent with an assault.

And prosecutors asserted that the girl was pressured to change her story, noting her mother admitted she didn’t believe her at first. ..For the rest of the story: by Amanda Marrazzo