Darren Monroe, age 57, was found guilty Thursday by a Vermilion County Jury of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class X Felony, and Aggravated Domestic Battery, a Class 2 Felony. During the trial, presided over by Hon. Charles Hall, the Jury heard testimony from the victim, T.M., how her estranged husband, Monroe, entered her home in December of 2019, beat her about the face and head, strangled her, made her remove her clothing, and sexually assaulted her. Medical testimony was presented that Monroe fractured the victim's orbital bone, broke her nose, and caused extensive bruising to the victim's head, neck, and chest. Also, evidence was collected during an ensuing sexual assault examination after the crimes, and through testing by the Illinois State Police (ISP) Crime Laboratory, Monroe's DNA was located on the vaginal swabs obtained from the victim.
Monroe chose to testify in the case, and during cross examination by the prosecution, claimed that the victim actually raped him. He claimed that after he beat and strangled her, she begged him for sex. When he refused, according to Monroe, she forced herself onto him. The Jury clearly rejected Monroe's version of events.
After the verdicts were rendered, Judge Hall revoked Monroe's bond, and scheduled the matter for sentencing to occur on March 16, 2022. Monroe faces a sentencing range of nine (9) years to forty-four (44) years of imprisonment, all of which must be served at 85%. Any sentence he receives will be followed by three (3) years to life of Mandatory Supervised Release (i.e., Parole), and he will be required to register as a Sex Offender for the remainder of his days.
State's Attorney Jacqueline Lacy expressed her appreciativeness of the victim's courage in this case, including: her prompt reporting of Monroe's crimes; her enduring a sexual assault examination; and her remaining steadfast for over two years to obtain justice. The State's Attorney also thanked the Vermilion County Sheriff and his Deputies, medical staff at Carle Hospital, Urbana, and forensic scientists at the ISP Crime Laboratory involved in this matter, and noted that their combined efforts and cooperation helped ensure that a sex offender will properly spend a significant period of time behind bars.
