Rape charges were dropped Thursday against a 19-year-old who was accused of sexually assaulting an incoming Illinois State University student during orientation last summer.
Shawn Childs Jr. faced six counts of criminal sexual assault and abuse in the July 2016 incident. Those charges were dismissed after the victim asked prosecutors to drop the case.
"In cases like this, we certainly give great weight to the victim's wishes," said McLean County Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Alferink.
Childs and his father, Shawn Childs Sr., were accused of drugging the prospective ISU student and sexually assaulting her in a university dormitory during Preview orientation. Parents typically attend Preview, though they stay on separate floors if they spend the night on campus.
Prosecutors commend the victim for reporting the alleged assault, Alferink said. The message to other victims of assault, she said, is that making a report doesn't commit them to a full prosecution or public trial.
"If they choose not to do anything else with that, we will respect that," Alferink said.
Shawn Childs Sr. pleaded guilty to drug charges related to the incident in November.
Neither Childs Jr. or the victim are currently students at ISU, Alferink said.
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