Former Sterling man, 62, found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl

OREGON – An Ogle County judge ruled Friday that an Oregon man is guilty of six counts of criminal sexual assault and one count of battering a girl after a bench trial in November.

James S. Clevenger III, 61, formerly of Sterling, faces six to 30 years in prison on each assault charge, which must be served at 85% before he is eligible for release, and one to three years for the battery.

He has a status hearing March 13. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

The bench trial was held Nov. 14 and 29 before Judge Ben Roe, Ogle County court records show.

Clevenger was charged July 15, 2021, with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and being a child sex offender living within 500 feet of a prohibited space. The sex abuse charge was dismissed Oct. 9, 2021, while the battery charge was added Dec. 9, 2021.

Further investigation determined that he assaulted the same child the year before, State’s Attorney Mike Rock said in a news release Friday, and the second case was filed May 23, 2022, court records show.

A motion to join the two cases was approved Feb. 7, 2023.