Liberian man sentenced to 38 years on sexual abuse charges

JOLIET – A Liberian immigrant was sentenced Monday to 38 years in prison for sexually abusing three young girls.

Rickie Brownson, 18, sobbed throughout the proceedings and repeatedly told Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes he was "not a bad kid" and would not hurt anybody.

But Assistant Will County State's Attorney Mark Fleszewski said shortly after Brownson arrived stateside in July 2012, he began engaging in sex acts with three then-8-year-old girls at residences in Joliet and Bolingbrook – threatening to hurt them if they told anyone.

Fleszewski said Brownson continued molesting the victims until January 2013, when they told a young woman who was subsequently "beaten up and ostracized," Fleszewski said.

The prosecutor told Alessio Policandriotes about a meeting Brownson had with his father, Paul Brownson, and a local pastor, where he "lay on the ground crying ... [and] said it wouldn't happen again."

Paul Brownson testified Monday that he believes his son is innocent of the sexual abuse, has never been in trouble and enjoys helping people.

Rickie Brownson was tried as an adult in November. The girls all recanted their testimony from earlier court proceedings, victim interviews and medical examinations, but jurors reportedly believed they'd been forced to lie.

"The mitigation in this case is the age of the defendant and the deficiencies of his father and his attempts to be smarter than anyone else," Alessio Policandriotes said. "While there are no criminal charges against [Paul Brownson] to say to [the victims] that this will stop [simply] because he says so is criminal."

When questioning Paul Brownson, Fleszewski noted the victims are still receiving psychological counseling.

Brownson faced up to 120 years behind bars. Defense attorney Elizabeth Meyer noted he'd grown up in a camp in Liberia, was arrested at 16 and was leading a prayer group at the jail while studying for a GED.

Brownson told the judge he'd like to pursue a career as a counselor or motivational speaker.