Ex-daycare owner gets six years in prison for molesting girls

A former Venice daycare owner has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to molesting seven young girls.

Alfred C. Session, 70, pleaded guilty to seven counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. Each count represents a different victim.

The abuse spanned a 24-year period, from 1990 to 2014, according to a news release from the Madison County Prosecutor’s office, but the case was not prosecuted until late 2014 when one of the victims came forward.

Investigations show that the abuse took place at Session’s home, and that all seven of the victims knew Sessions prior to the abuse. Due to privacy reasons, information about the victims will not be released. However, initial charges filed in early 2015 said the girls were younger than 13.

A jury trial was to take place July 17, but while talking to victims, prosecutors decided to accept a negotiated plea deal to spare the victims the possible trauma of testifying in front of a jury, according to the news release.

Session used to own the Sugars Day Care center on Washington Street in Venice. He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

This story was originally published July 25, 2017 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Ex-daycare owner gets six years in prison for molesting girls."