2017 abuse claim ends in battery plea

Oct. 15—A child sexual abuse case that has been ongoing in Morgan County since December 2017 ended Oct. 5 with a guilty plea to two counts of battery.

Robert R. Bilbruck, 44, originally pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal sexual abuse of a minor but later waived his rights to a jury trial and entered the guilty plea.

Bilbruck was sentenced to two years' probation plus a $25 monthly probation fee. He also is to have no contact with the victim and has been fined $1,000 and court fees.

Although the case has been ongoing since 2017, State's Attorney Gray Noll said it isn't uncommon for such a case to be continued, and Bilbruck's case was continued several times.

Bilbruck was arrested Oct. 12, 2017, on a charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and booked into the Morgan County jail.

Charging documents filed Dec. 18, 2017, accused Bilbruck of touching the "sex organ" or breast of the victim, who was 13 at the time.

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