A man accused of sexually assaulting a resident at a non-profit facility for individuals with profound developmental disabilities is expected to enter a plea soon. Jeffrey J. Leavitt, 32, of Aurora, is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and two counts of abuse of a long-term health care facility resident. The incident allegedly occurred in 2018 at Marklund, a nonprofit facility in Geneva.
Leavitt was employed as a resident assistant at the facility, and the victim, a woman in her 40s, has profound developmental disabilities. The victim's family reported the alleged assault after they noticed a change in her behavior. She was taken to a hospital and examined by a nurse trained in sexual assault cases. The nurse concluded that the woman had been sexually assaulted.
After a thorough investigation, police arrested Leavitt in February 2019. His bail was set at $200,000, and he has been in custody at the Kane County Jail since then. Leavitt's trial was initially set for January 2020 but has been postponed several times, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If convicted, Leavitt faces a sentence of six to 30 years in prison. The charges are not probationable, meaning that if he is found guilty, he must serve the time in prison. His next court appearance is set for February 11, 2022. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office is handling the case.
Marklund is a nonprofit organization providing residential, therapeutic, and educational services to children and adults with severe and profound developmental disabilities. It operates several facilities in the Chicago area. The organization has tightened its hiring practices since the incident, conducting more thorough background checks and providing additional training to staff members.