A Marengo man was sentenced on Friday to 45 days of periodic imprisonment along with probation after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a young girl.
Dominick R. Zarlenga, 56, of the 500 block of East Washington Street in Marengo, was charged in January 2020 with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony, and three counts of criminal sexual abuse.
The Marengo Police Department said at the time that they began an investigation in July 2019.
The investigation stemmed from them receiving a report of a sexual assault that occurred approximately three years prior.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges that Zarlenga committed a sex act on a child sometime between 2015 and 2016.
The girl was between the age of 8 and 10 when the assault occurred, court records show.
Zarlenga was taken into custody in late January 2020 by members of the Marengo Police Department.
Zarlenga was released from the McHenry County Jail days later after his bond was reduced from $150,000 to $75,000 and he posted 10%.
Court records show Zarlenga entered into a blind plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Zarlenga pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for his other charges being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge on Friday sentenced Zarlenga to 45 days of periodic imprisonment in the county jail.
Zarlenga, who will be required to register as a sex offender, will be on probation for three years and will be required to perform 300 hours of public service.
Coppedge also ordered Zarlenga to undergo sex offender treatment and pay $4,628 in court fees and fines.
An additional sentence of 135 days in the county jail will not be imposed as long as Zarlenga completes his sentence satisfactorily, court records show.