Harvard man gets 8-year prison sentence for child sexual assault

A Harvard man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a child younger than 13, McHenry County court records show.

Rojelio Villanueva, 35, of the 300 block of Jackman Street, entered a guilty plea Thursday before Judge Tiffany Davis to one count of predatory sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, a Class X felony. The court ordered Villanueva to serve at least 85% of his sentence, according to court documents. In many cases, defendants serve only half of their sentences.

In exchange for the plea, charges of sexual abuse of a family member, aggravated sexual abuse and sexual assault were dropped.

The sexual abuse occurred from 2019 through 2020, according to the original indictment. Other counts alleged more abuse occurred until 2024.

Villanueva has been held in jail since his arrest in March 2024 and is expected to receive credit toward his prison sentence for the 11 months he’s been detained.