DANVILLE, IL (Chambana Today) – Robert Musson, 59, formerly of Danville, was sentenced to life in prison on six counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child, all class X felonies. Vermilion County First Assistant State’s Attorney Tom O’Connor and Assistant Jacob Klein secured that verdict from Circuit Judge Robert McIntire on October 11.
During Musson’s trial, which concluded on August 14, evidence was presented that the Danville Police Department received reports of two minor victims who had been sexually abused by Musson at separate times between 2016 and 2020. The Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center and the Peoria Child Advocacy Center assisted the Danville Police Department with the investigation and interviews. During the trial, the minor victims provided compelling testimony recounting their abuse.
An additional prior victim testified to Judge McIntire, describing the sexual abuse that she suffered as a child. The victim described that after she told a family member about the abuse following one of the incidents, Musson told her he was “sorry.”
During the sentencing hearing parents of one victim provided victim impact statements to the court. The mother of the victim stated, “as the kids were growing up, I was trying to protect them from monsters, not knowing the biggest monster was living under the same roof.” The father of the victim thanked members of the Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center, the Danville Police Department Investigation Division, and the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office for always making the victim “feel protected and loved.”
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy thanked the victims for having the courage to come forward and for displaying bravery in testifying against their abuser.