CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — A Champaign police officer, charged with sex crimes involving three women in two counties, has waived his right to a jury trial in one of the cases, just before that trial was scheduled to begin.
The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that 31-year-old Jerad Gale made the request in a Piatt County case on Friday. He’s charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault involving a 27-year-old woman with whom he lived in Monticello in a trial scheduled to begin Monday, May 2.
Defense attorney Evan Bruno declined to discuss whether Gale and local prosecutors are discussing a plea deal in lieu of a trial.
The 2014 Champaign police officer of the year is also charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated domestic battery against former girlfriends in two separate Champaign County cases.
