Police: Sycamore couple tied up, repeatedly raped 19-year-old

SYCAMORE – A Sycamore man out on bond for failing to register as a sex offender and his girlfriend remained in jail Tuesday after police said they tied a 19-year-old acquaintance to a bed and repeatedly raped her.

Thomas A. Broughton, 24, and Ashley N. Zick, 21, who share an apartment in the 400 block of East State Street, Sycamore, were arrested Monday on felony sexual assault and unlawful restraint charges. If convicted, Broughton, who already has been to prison for a previous sex crime, faces a mandatory sentence of natural life in prison. Zick could face four to 15 years in prison.

Sycamore police began investigating the incident after receiving a complaint that Broughton and Zick attacked the woman, who police described as an acquaintance of theirs, Sunday at the couple’s apartment.

Prosecutors said Broughton drove the 19-year-old woman to the couple’s Sycamore apartment and gave her alcohol. He and Zick then carried the woman to the bedroom and tied her hands and feet to the bed with straps. Both raped the woman multiple times despite her saying “stop” and “no,” according to court documents.

Zick admitted to the crimes and told police the victim didn’t consent to the sexual activity, court records show.

Sycamore police collected evidence after obtaining a warrant to search the apartment, Cmdr. Michael Anderson said in a news release Tuesday. Broughton and Zick gave the woman a ride home afterward, Anderson said. He declined to comment on the duration of the assault.

Prosecutors want Broughton to be held without bond.

In a motion to deny bond filed Tuesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Alesandra Friend said, “There is no condition or combination of conditions that can reasonably assure that [Broughton] will not continue to commit acts of criminal sexual assault.”

Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert ordered Broughton held without bond until Thursday, when a hearing is scheduled on the motion to deny bond.

Broughton said he had a lawyer on a pending case that he wanted to represent him on the new charges. He didn’t name the lawyer.

The judge set Zick’s bond at $75,000. Friend had asked for bond of $250,000 in light of the allegations in the case. DeKalb County Public Defender Tom McCulloch, who was appointed to represent Zick, asked that his client be released on her signature without having to post bond.

Broughton and Zick became engaged in December, according their respective Facebook pages.

In 2011, Broughton was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child for touching a 5-year-old girl. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and was sentenced to seven years in prison, according to court records. At that time, he was represented by Rick Amato.

In September 2016, Broughton was charged with failing to register as a sex offender in Sycamore. He pleaded not guilty to that charge Nov. 28. Amato, who was elected DeKalb County state’s attorney in November, asked that a special prosecutor take over the case because he previously represented Broughton. The case remained pending as of Tuesday.

Zick is next due in court Feb. 7. A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 17.

A hearing on Broughton’s bond is set for Thursday.