Meyer sentenced to 30 years in prison

A former Rochelle man was sentenced last week to 30 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a child younger than 13 years old.

Benjamin W. Meyer, 38, of Belvidere, pleaded guilty to three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

Ogle County Judge John B. Roe sentenced him Feb. 22 to a total of 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

According to a press release from State’s Attorney Eric Morrow, state statute requires that Meyer serves 85 percent of this sentence in custody, due to the nature of the charges.

After his release from the IDOC he will be subject to a term of mandatory supervised release, formerly called parole, of from three years to natural life.

Meyer was originally arrested for these offenses on Sept. 6, 2017 and released on bond after posting 10 percent of a $200,000 bond.

He was then returned to jail on Dec. 6, 2017 after Morrow filed a motion to increase his bond. The motion alleged that Meyer violated the bond conditions.

“I am pleased with this sentence which is the result of a brave victim and the effort and dedication of a multi-disciplinary team through Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center consisting of members from Shining Star, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office and the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office,” Morrow said in the press release.