Man convicted of raping teen to spend up to 85 years in prison

A man convicted of raping his ex-girlfriend’s teenage daughter will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

Jerry Sutt, 53, represented himself at his trial last month on charges that he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home in September 2014 and left her teenage son hog-tied in one room while he raped her 15-year-old daughter in the other.

Sutt was convicted after less than an hour of jury deliberation on July 20, following a two-day trial in which he personally cross-examined the victims. He was convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual assault, a Class X felony, and two counts of aggravated unlawful restraint, a Class 3 felony.

“Sexual assault cases are difficult for everyone involved, but the actions that these young victims were forced to suffer at the hands of Mr. Sutt are simply incomprehensible,” said Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons. “Both victims displayed admirable amounts of strength and bravery throughout the course of this case, assisting the Madison County Sheriff’s Department with their initial investigation while Mr. Sutt was still at large, and maintaining the strength to share their horrific experience in front of the jurors.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Nolan, head of the Children’s Justice division, argued in support of a lengthy sentence before Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp Wednesday. Napp sentenced Sutt to 75 years on the sexual assault charges, of which he will be required to serve 85 percent; and 10 years on the charges of unlawful restraint, of which he is required to serve 50 percent.

Napp called Sutt “a monstrous man” during her sentencing, and Gibbons said he concurred. “I cannot describe the defendant any better than Judge Napp did herself,” he said. “These horrific crimes will not be tolerated in Madison County.”

The usual penalty range for a Class X felony is six to 30 years in prison and three to five years for a class 3 felony, but Gibbons said Sutt was eligible for enhanced sentences due to aggravating factors, including the harm caused the victims, his criminal history and the necessity of deterring other offenders.

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Man convicted of raping teen to spend up to 85 years in prison."