Testimony continues today in Wabash County Circuit Court in the trial of a former Mount Carmel man charged with multiple child sex offenses.
One of the witnesses called by the prosecution Wednesday morning was Illinois State Police Special Agent Steve Perry, who led the investigation into allegations against 45-year-old Joseph Sellers of Janesville, Wisconsin.
During testimony, Perry told jurors he completed his investigation and presented the case to then-Wabash County State's Attorney Cassandra Goldman in July 2020. However, no charges were filed before Goldman left office in December of that year. The case was later reviewed by current State's Attorney Kelli Storckman, who filed charges against Sellers in 2021.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Monroe McWard questioned Perry about the timeline, suggesting that if the evidence against Sellers had been strong, Goldman would have filed charges during the several months she remained in office after receiving the case.
McWard also raised questions about a potential conflict of interest, noting that Perry attended the same church as both the alleged victim and the church member who first contacted authorities regarding the allegations. Perry acknowledged attending the church but maintained his investigation was conducted professionally.
The trial began Tuesday with opening statements. Prosecutors allege Sellers repeatedly abused a young girl while the two attended the same church in Mount Carmel during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The alleged victim testified Tuesday.
Sellers faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The trial is expected to continue through the remainder of the week.