People v. Rodriguez-Palomino

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of 3 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and 9 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Victims were the 3 daughters of Defendant's girlfriend. State presented evidence upon which a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. Delay in victims' reporting did not render their testimony less credible, as Defendant threatened to harm them if they told and as abuse was traumatic. Defendant's life sentences for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child do not necessarily eliminate the need for consecutive sentences for the less serious offenses, as court found that offenses would be likely to reoccur.(BIRKETT and HUDSON, concurring.)