KANKAKEE, Illinois — Bond has been set at $1 million for a Catholic priest accused of sexually assaulting a resident of a developmental center outside Chicago on Halloween.
Father Richard Jacklin was arrested by Illinois State Police on Tuesday for the alleged assault on the resident at Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee, where the priest has worked for 19 years.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney, Jim Rowe, on Thursday told the judge a nurse walked in on Jacklin performing a sex act on a 39-year-old man. The alleged victim has been a patient at Shapiro since 2010 and is paralyzed and has an intellectual disability.
The 65-year-old Jacklin has been charged with criminal sexual assault by force and sexual misconduct of a person with a disability. He is scheduled to be next in court on Dec. 4.
The Diocese of Joliet says Jacklin was ordained June 2, 1984, and has been assigned to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Goodrich since 2005.
“We will cooperate with law enforcement and as details emerge from this ongoing investigation, we will be able to make a more thorough statement,” the diocese said.
“The safety and care of our residents is always our top priority. We are providing support to members of the Shapiro community,” the Illinois Department of Human Services said in a statement. “IDHS has suspended services provided by the Diocese of Joliet at our Shapiro Center until additional safeguards are put in place.”
Crux staff contributed to this report.
