Illinois Supreme Court upholds sentencing of Fox River Grove man for child sexual assault

The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and sentencing of a Fox River Grove man for the sexual assault of a child, according to court documents.

Korem Johanson, 42, was sentenced in 2021 to 16 years in prison for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child younger than 13. He also was required to register as a sex offender for life.

Johanson appealed that outcome, seeking to amend his Class X felony to a less severe Class 2 felony of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to court documents. He argued that the two offenses contained “identical elements” but different sentences in severity.

The Illinois Supreme Court said it upheld the ruling because it did not find the two offenses to have identical elements.

Johanson first appealed his conviction and sentence to the Illinois 2nd District Appellate Court, which upheld the circuit court’s verdict and sentence. He then appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, which again upheld the ruling last week.

Johanson was arrested with the charges on July 22, 2019, by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. The case went to a bench trial in 2021 and was prosecuted by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to a news release from the state’s attorney’s office.

Johanson also was found guilty of possessing a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card.

Robert Meyer, a psychologist who evaluated Johanson before the 2021 sentencing, called the man’s acts “opportunistic” and determined that Johanson is at a low risk of reoffending.

Meyer also said Johanson is a “dangerous individual if not treated.”

Johanson’s trial lawyer, Philip Prossnitz, said McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge, who died in October, displayed fairness and grace during the trial.

“Resolving criminal cases is a gruesome business, especially when it involves sex crimes against children,” Prossnitz said in an email. “Lawyers and judges are called upon to dispassionately follow criminal procedure and law written by the legislature to arrive at a fair resolution in a courtroom of an emotionally explosive crime.

“Citizens need not gnash their teeth and ring their hands that justice wasn’t served. It was. Rather, citizens should be proud that the criminal justice system works, staffed by professionals who are conscientiously doing their jobs pursuant to their sworn duties to ensure a just result.”

In the release from the state’s attorney’s office, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally thanked the sheriff’s office and Assistant State’s Attorney Sharyl Eisenstein “for their diligent efforts in investigating and prosecuting this case.”

“The state’s attorney’s office is committed to seeking justice for children who have been victims of crimes,” he said.