A Lake Forest man who prosecutors say sexually and physically abused a child for approximately eight years has been sentenced to 39 years in prison.
Wojciech Dzierzanowski, 49, of Lake Forest, was found guilty of five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and seven counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
The verdict came in late April and was handed down by Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti.
Prosecutors said Dzierzanowski had sexually and physically abused a child from roughly age 7 to age 15.
The victim eventually disclosed the abuse in therapy. Both of the victim’s parents gave victim impact statements at the end of the trial.
Rossetti sentenced Dzierzanowski on Monday to 39 years in prison, court records show.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said his office is intensifying its focus on prosecuting violent crimes and sex crimes, calling it a “top priority.”
“My job is to make sure our best prosecutors are getting the resources they need to secure justice for the survivors of crime. By telling violent offenders that they will face decades in prisons at the hands of focused prosecutors, we are making the county safer,” Rinehart said.
Rinehart said he created a new Violent Crimes Investigative Unit, a tracking system for felony DUI cases, hired a Chief of Victim Services, and is working to fast-track victimless cases in misdemeanor courtrooms.
Dzierzanowski remains held in the Lake County Jail awaiting transport to the Illinois Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.