On December 15, 2022, Mason E. Bertrand was sentenced to 69 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by Associate Judge Jennifer Ascher. The sentence followed Bertrand’s conviction on all counts charged by the State’s Attorney’s Office; Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, Unlawful Restraint, and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
After a 3-day trial, the jury found Bertrand guilty of the repeated sexual assault of his 13 year old daughter between April, 2018 and September, 2019. In addition to the 69-year prison sentence, Bertrand will be required to register as a Sexual Predator for life.
At the sentencing hearing, the survivor of the Defendant’s heinous crimes bravely spoke to the Court about the impact these unspeakable acts had, and continue to have on her. The case was prosecuted by Mary Beth Rodgers, Chief of the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office Felony Division and Kendra Hansel, Chief of the Juvenile and Child Protection Divisions. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office lead the investigation with the assistance of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center Multi-Disciplinary Team.
Following the sentencing, Felony Division Chief Mary Beth Rodgers stated, “We hope the conviction of this individual on all counts and the Judge’s sentence of nearly 70 years in prison sends a clear message. First, to survivors of these horrible crimes, if you come forward, there is help and there is hope. And to those who think they can abuse their positions of trust and authority, your power over these victims is not absolute – we will do everything within our power to seek justice for sexual assault victims and hold offenders accountable for these heinous acts.”