Aug 7, 2014‐ KANKAKEE, IL‐ 22 year‐old Bradley resident Eric D. Wheeler was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in the Illinois Department of Corrections in a Kankakee County Courtroom this afternoon in connection with an Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse case from last year. Wheeler was accused of battering and sexually abusing a 23 year‐old female in rural Manteno after last year’s Oktoberfest. Wheeler had followed the victim to her home before approaching her.

Wheeler took a blind plea in the case where he was accused of striking the female victim in the face before groping her sexually.

Wheeler had pending charges of numerous similar offenses in Nashville, TN at the time of the offense in Manteno.

Kankakee County Sheriff Tim Bukowski credits Sheriff’s Detectives for the extensive amount of time spent during the investigation.

“Anyone that re‐offends random victims similarly to this particular subject is a threat to all Kankakee County residents,” said Bukowski. “I thank our investigators for their dedication to this case and the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case. There is no question that behavior like this has no place on our streets.”

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