From the State’s Attorney:
PATRICK O’FARRELL IS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR GROOMING
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announces that on May 20, 2025, Patrick S. O’Farrell, 58, of Woodstock, was sentenced to two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after entering a plea of guilty to one count of Grooming, a Class 4 felony.
Upon release, O’Farrell must also register as a sex offender for a period of ten years.
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Judge Mark Gerhardt after O’Farrell entered a negotiated plea of guilty to the charge.
In April of 2024, a report was made to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) that a teen was being groomed and inappropriately touched by a youth group leader at her church in Woodstock.
A victim-sensitive interview was conducted at the Child Advocacy Center, where the victim further revealed specific details and identified O’Farrell as the abuser.
Additional interviews were conducted by Woodstock Police Detectives, including one with the defendant, who under questioning, ultimately admitted to the behavior.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese commends the teen for her courage to speak up and report the abuse. Freese appreciates the thorough investigative efforts by those involved from the Woodstock Police Department, especially Detectives Sharp, Gustafson, and Fischer, as well as the trained staff at the Child Advocacy Center.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth M. Vonau.
