Office of the Kane County State’s Attorney
JOSEPH H. McMAHON
State’s Attorney
Kane County Judicial Center
37W777 Route 38 Suite 300
St. Charles, Illinois 60175
General Offices: (630) 232-3500
Contact:
Christopher Nelson (630) 232-3500
McGOWAN GETS 120 YEARS FOR RAPING ELDERLY ELGIN WOMAN
‘IT IS THIS COURT’S INTENT THAT RODNEY McGOWAN NEVER AGAIN BE A FREE MAN’
August 25, 2011
A Chicago man who was convicted of invading the home of a 74-year-old Elgin
woman and sexually assaulting her will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Rodney L. McGowan, 43 (d.o.b. 8-16-1968), most recently of the 1000 block of North
Monticello Avenue, Chicago, Ill., was sentenced today by Circuit Judge Timothy Q.
Sheldon to 120 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
McGowan was convicted June 3, 2011, by a Kane County jury, of one count of home
invasion, a Class X felony, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, each a
Class X felony, and one count of aggravated battery to a senior citizen, a Class 2
felony. In addition, the jury found that prosecutors proved that the home invasion and
sexual assault were accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior
indicative of wanton cruelty.
Shortly after midnight April 24, 2010, McGowan climbed through the bedroom
window of the victim’s apartment in the 1000 block of Fleetwood Drive, Elgin.
McGowan punched and beat the victim about the face and chest, sexually assaulted
the victim and then fled the apartment through the door.
Police located McGowan by viewing and comparing surveillance video. McGowan was
seen on the video leaving the victim’s apartment shortly after the assault, and then
was seen on surveillance video entering a nearby apartment building, where his
girlfriend lived, a short time later.
DNA evidence taken from a condom found in the apartment matched McGowan’s
DNA, and fingerprints taken from the victim’s apartment and from the condom
wrapper found in the victim’s apartment were left by McGowan.
The victim, who testified at the trial, suffered fractures to her cheek and orbital bones
and bruises to her chest. She still is physically recovering from the assault and
moved out of the Chicago area.
During today’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence of McGowan’s
criminal past. In 2006, McGowan began a 20-year prison sentence in the Arkansas
Department of Corrections for convictions for burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery
and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
In addition, prosecutors argued that as a free man, McGowan was a great danger to
society, that he would continue to seek victims and that the rape was a crime of
opportunity.
Before he announced his sentence, Judge Sheldon read excerpts from a letter written
by the victim, in which she stated that she is scared of everything, that she has
trouble walking, she has constant pain in her face and the she has problems eating
and drinking.
The victim did not return to Illinois for the hearing.
In announcing the sentence, Judge Sheldon said, “It is this court’s intent that Rodney
McGowan never again be a free man.”
The sentence breaks down as 60 years for the home invasion and 60 years for the
aggravated criminal sexual assault. The remaining counts merged for purposes of
sentencing, according to Illinois law.
McGowan had been held in the Kane County jail on $900,000 bail. Bond was
revoked upon conviction.
According to state law, McGowan must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. He
receives credit for time served in the Kane County jail since his arrest.
“Not only was this a particularly brutal and unnerving crime, Mr. McGowan’s actions
were despicable and cowardly. People have a right to feel safe inside their own
homes, and anyone who would so ruthlessly and deliberately violate that sanctity and
then sexually assault a senior citizen does not ever again deserve to breathe a breath
of fresh air as a free man,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. “We are
obligated to protect and defend our most vulnerable citizens, and I am pleased that
Judge Sheldon saw fit to deliver such a harsh sentence to such a violent and vile
man.
“I again wish to thank Det. Dave Baumgartner and the other members of the Elgin
Police Department who worked so hard on this case, and I also wish to thank Kane
County Assistant State’s Attorneys Joe Cullen and Reagan McGuire for their dogged
pursuit of justice for this victim and for the people of Elgin.”