Somonauk man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting disabled 13-year-old family member given 25 years

SOMONAUK, Ill. — An Illinois man will spend more than 20 years in prison for a kidnapping related to the sexual assault of a 13-year-old family member who suffers severe developmental disabilities.

19-year-old Franklin Tooley, a Somonauk, Illinois resident, pleaded guilty in DeKalb County Circuit Court to one count of aggravated kidnapping related to efforts that he took to conceal the sexual assault of a family member, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Tuesday.

According to Raoul, Tooley was taken into custody by DeKalb County deputies back in March of 2023 after an investigation revealed that he had sexually assaulted a 13-year-old family member, who has severe developmental disabilities, between January and February 2023.

The investigation also revealed that Tooley had disabled video cameras the family had installed to monitor the victim.

“This guilty plea and sentence represents a measure of justice for the innocent victim and their family after the defendant violated their trust in the most unthinkable way possible, and I hope this result aids their efforts to heal,” Raoul said in a press release announcing the sentence. “I am committed to continued partnerships with local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors that help hold perpetrators accountable, prevent others from potentially becoming victims, and supporting survivors and their families on their paths to healing.”  

Tooley’s sentence was handed down by DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick and he will be required to serve at least 85% of the sentence.

“Our office is thankful for the assistance of the Attorney General’s Office in ensuring that that we were able to get justice for the minor victim in this family,” DeKalb County State’s Attorney Riley Oncken said. “Those who prey on the young, disabled, or other vulnerable victims deserve to be incarcerated where they cannot commit further harm to families and our community. Thanks to the fine work of our law enforcement and prosecutors, this defendant will spend many years in prison for his actions.”

Authorities did not provide a booking photo for Tooley.

Anyone who may be a victim of sexual exploitation or worries that others may be victims can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.