Bond has been set at $150,000 for a 31-year-old Salem man who was formally charged in Marion County Court on Friday with a Class X felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a child along with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Jerry Summers of South Franklin is charged with improperly touching an eight-year-old girl who was under his foster care between August and December 2020.
In the probable cause statement, State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth said the incidents occurred while the girl’s foster mother was out of town. He reportedly told her it was ‘our secret’.
Hudspeth said the incident did not come to light until the girl was having trouble in school and reportedly said it was because she kept thinking about the incidents that allegedly occurred with Summers. After the Department of Children and Family Services was notified, an investigation followed, including an Amy Center interview, that led to information being turned over to the Salem Police Department. They arrested Summers at his home on Thursday.
If released on bond, Judge Mark Stedelin ordered Summers to have no contact with the victim, her residence or school, along with no contact with anyone under 18.
The public defender was appointed to represent Summers.
