Officials: Dad drugged student, son sexually assaulted her at ISU orientation
Father and son from Chicago face criminal charges related to the alleged sexual assault of a student in an Illinois State University residence hall during a gathering of incoming students on campus for orientation.
Shawn Childs Jr., 19, is charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault of a woman who also was on campus for orientation, which ISU calls Preview.
His father, Shawn Childs Sr., is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver for allegedly putting ecstasy in the woman’s soda during the alleged incident that happened between 10 and 11 p.m. Tuesday at Hewett Hall in Normal.
According to a statement read Thursday in McLean County Circuit Court by First Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Ghrist, the father and son came into the residence hall with other students who were on campus to learn more about the university ahead of the start of classes in August.
The group was together in one of the dorm rooms, where students were staying during the two-day Preview that ended Thursday.
The elder Childs offered to go out and purchase alcohol for the students who were minors, and returned with alcohol from a nearby store, said Ghrist. The alleged victim told police she saw Childs Sr. put a pill in her soda that she then drank.
The alleged victim, whose hometown was not disclosed, left the gathering and returned to her room after she felt ill. She told police she was sexually assaulted by Shawn Childs Jr. who followed her into the room. In her description of the assault, the woman said the suspect raped her twice and barred her from leaving the room, Ghrist said in court.
She reported the alleged attack the following morning.
The prosecutor added that Childs Jr. admitted to police that the victim was “messed up” when the incident occurred.
