Ninth Circuit Judge Andrew Doyle handed down a sentence of 35 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for a Galesburg man who was convicted by a Knox County jury this spring of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and unlawful restraint.
Jason D. Fielder, 47, will get credit for 336 days served in the Knox County jail. He was ordered to pay $262,000 in restitution.
At a sentencing hearing Thursday morning, Knox County State’s Attorney Ashley Worby called Fielder’s crimes “heinous” and “disgusting.”
The victim,16 years old at the time, was the daughter of Fielder’s former girlfriend. The crimes occurred in the girlfriend’s home, where Fielder previously lived.
Fielder entered the home in the early morning hours when he knew the victim’s mother would be at work. He zip-tied the victim before the sexual assault, then tied the victim to a wooden beam in the basement. Fielder then set a fire in the kitchen right above where the victim was restrained and left the home.
Worby read an impact statement from the victim to the court, with the victim saying they suffer from anxiety and depression and worry about being stalked as a result of Fielder’s actions. The victim’s mother also delivered an impact statement, noting that Fielder’s actions affected her life, too.
“It keeps me up at night,” she said.
Worby had asked for a sentence of 56 years, including 28 years for attempted murder, 28 years for aggravated arson, and four years for unlawful restraint, to be served concurrently. She asked for 28 years for aggravated criminal sexual assault to be served consecutively to the other counts.
Doyle, noting both Fielder’s lack of previous felony convictions and the seriousness of the crimes, sentenced him to 15 years for attempted murder, 15 years for aggravated arson, and three years for unlawful restraint to be served concurrently. Doyle sentenced Fielder to 20 years for aggravated criminal sexual assault to be served consecutively to the other counts. Fielder will be required to serve 85% of the sentence.
“This sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions and the lifelong trauma inflicted on a vulnerable child,” Worby told TSPR. “I commend the victim for their courage, and I am grateful to the Galesburg Police Department officers and investigators, as well as my support staff who worked tirelessly to assist me in bringing justice to the victim and their family.”
The fact that Fielder was in a position of trust, authority, or supervision over the victim was an aggravating factor in sentencing on the aggravated criminal sexual assault charge, Doyle said.
In a lengthy statement of allocution, Fielder denied setting the fire but admitted to the assault and to restraining the victim. He told the court he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
