A 45-year-old Elgin man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the sexual assault of a woman at knifepoint in 2020.
Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced today that Judge Barsanti has sentenced Zanzibah T. Stewart to 50 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. On January 24, 2024, a jury found Zanzibah Stewart guilty of the offenses of Aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony (3 counts); Criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony (3 counts); and Aggravated unlawful restraint, a Class 3 felony.
According to prosecutors, on November 8, 2020, Stewart threatened the victim, a woman Stewart knew at the time, with a knife and then sexually assaulted her.
“This is justice,” said Assistant State’s Attorneys Amanda Busljeta. “The 50 year sentence ensures that the defendant will never be able to hurt the victim or any innocent person again. I hope it also sends a clear message that this horrendous criminal conduct will not be tolerated. My thanks to the victim for her bravery.”
In accordance with Illinois law, Steward must serve 85 percent of 48 years of his sentence (counts 1-3, aggravated criminal sexual assault) and is eligible for day-for-day sentencing for the other 2 years of his sentence (count 7, aggravated unlawful restraint), all served consecutively. Stewart receives credit for 1,304 days served in the Kane County jail. In addition to the prison term, Stewart must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.
