BELLEVILLE, Ill. – An accused child predator is in custody in St. Clair County, Illinois, following a reported sexual assault earlier this week.
According to Msgt. Gary Brewer, a spokesman for the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the investigation began on July 29. Deputies were called to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital just before 11:30 a.m. for a sexual crime involving a child.
A deputy met with the victim’s parents, who said their daughter had been the victim of a sexual assault.
With the hospital’s help, Brewer said investigators identified Richard H. Hay, 41, as their primary suspect and filed charges with the county prosecutor. Hay was eventually taken into custody.
The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Hay with four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13 years of age, one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim over 5 years of age. Hay remains jailed without bond.
During the investigation, other victims came forward with similar allegations against Hay. Those incidents have been accounted for in the charges.
The sheriff’s department is seeking anyone else who may have been a victim of Hay. Those individuals are encouraged to contact Investigator Ben Vise at 618-825-5309.
