Grand Jury Files Charges In Sex Abuse Case - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Grand Jury Files Charges In Sex Abuse Case

 By: Meredith Dennis (from WGIL-AM, Galesburg), mdennis@cbs4qc.com

(Galesburg, IL) -- A Knox County grand jury has filed formal charges in the case of the now-former manager of Galesburg's Orpheum Theater accused of having sexual contact with a minor in the theater.

25-year old Josh Damewood was to have been in Knox County Circuit Court yesterday for a preliminary hearing.  But it was learned instead that a grand jury almost two weeks ago filed two felony counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, replacing the same charges prosecutors had filed in the case.

Damewood originally was arrested in late-December, a few weeks after a 16-year old boy went to police claiming Damewood had performed sexual acts on him in October, after asking Damewood about a role he wanted in a theater production.

Damewood reportedly said, quote, "You'll owe me a favor if I tell you your part."

He was later fired as Managing Director of the Orpheum, with a replacement yet to be found.

An arraignment hearing was scheduled for March 14th.

Damewood is out of jail on bond.  Other than saying he understood the charges, Damewood, represented by Public Defender Karl Johnson, made no statements in court.