Back on November 9th, the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division arrested 39-year-old Andrew D. Haines of rural Marseilles. A warrant had been issued for his arrest stemming from an investigation into Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. Haines was charged with four counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Of A Child (Class X Felonies) and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class 2 Felony). That meant a trip to the La Salle County jail for Haines.
On Wednesday there was a hearing in La Salle County Circuit Court to get Haines back on the streets. La Salle County prosecutors begged that he not be released as his trial next March could put him away for life.
Judge H Chris Ryan weighed the facts. Haines’ victim is in the witness protection program and despite Haines being under a no-contact order, there’s jail house video of him trying to relay messages to her.
Haines has no criminal history however and had numerous folks vouched for his character. Judge Ryan decided to hand Haines a get-out-of-jail card. Ryan was quick to add that if Haines even hints at having made the slightest violation of the no-contact order, he’s back on baloney sandwiches on Etna Road.
Prosecutors were flabbergasted by the decision.
Haines is back in rural Marseilles and he next faces the judge February 22nd.