Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Charges Against Child

A Bolingbrook man pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse to a child under 13 years of age in a Will County courtroom Monday and faces between three to seven years in prison for each count.

Ronald Smajda, 58, of the first block of Fernwood Drive, originally was charged with nine counts of aggravated or predatory criminal sexual abuse to a child under 13.

But after Smajda’s lawyers requested a 402 conference—a private hearing between the judge and defense for pleas of guilty—seven of those counts were dropped.

The charges stem from offenses dating back to 1995.

Smajda will be sentenced July 13. Prosecutors are seeking five years in prison for each count.

As part of his bond, he was ordered to house arrest except to attend a doctor’s appointment or a religious ceremony. Smajda is also not allowed to come into contact with children under 18.

The judge did grant Smajda an opportunity to travel to Indiana. Smajda will reappear in court May 31 for a status hearing to confirm he has come back.