Beginning in August 2008, Ralph Malacara spent 17 months sexually assaulting a pre-teen girl that knew him, and likely thought he had gotten away with it.
On Friday, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser announced that Malacara, a resident of Dundee, would spend the next 15 years in an Illinois prison for his actions.
The sentence was the result of a plea deal agreed to by Malacara in exchange for pleading guilty to the offense of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony.
The prosecuting attorney, Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey Wittman, issued a statement with the announcement.
“This victim was a young child when she was sexually assaulted. She held on to her secret for more than a decade before she finally told someone she trusted,” Wittman said. “The public should understand that it is common for child sexual abuse victims to disclose many years, if not decades, after abuse occurs. They will talk about it when it feels right for them to talk about it. And when they’re ready, we are here to listen and to work for justice for them.”
In addition to the prison term, Malacara must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.
According to Illinois law, Malacara must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. He receives credit for 56 days served in the Kane County jail.