Steward man charged with molesting girl: 45-year-old in prison for molesting the same girl in DeKalb County

DIXON – A Steward man serving 11 years for molesting a girl in DeKalb County now faces a new set of charges for allegedly molesting the same girl in Lee County.

Terry Q. Belcher, 45, was indicted in Lee County last week on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, each punishable by 3 to 7 years in prison.

Belcher has previous criminal convictions and so may be eligible for an extended term of up to 14 years in prison if convicted.

The alleged abuse occurred on two occasions, between May and November 2007, according to the indictment. The girl was younger than 13 at the time.

Lee County Sheriff John Varga said she was interviewed after her mother reported the alleged abuse in September 2008.

During the investigation, the department learned that Belcher had abused the girl in DeKalb County, and that there was a “much bigger case there,” Varga said.

A month later, DeKalb County charged Belcher with predatory criminal sexual assault.

He was sentenced last month to 11 years in prison.

It was not clear Wednesday when he will appear on the Lee County charges.

Belcher was sentenced to 3 years in prison for burglary and possession of a firearm by a felon in 1990, and to 4 years for theft in 1994, both in Ogle County.