From the State’s Attorney:
FERNANDO ESQUIVEL SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese announces that on June 13, 2025, Fernando Esquivel, 50, of Harvard, Illinois, was sentenced to ten years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on two counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class 1 felony.
Esquivel was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Mark Gerhardt after entering a negotiated plea of guilty to both counts.
In April of 2024, the Harvard Police Department began investigating a report of sexual assault of a child.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Esquivel had been assaulting two minor female victims between January 1, 2022, through April 14, 2024, when he was living with them.
The victims reported that Esquivel had committed multiple acts of sexual penetration and sexual conduct upon them.
Truth-in-Sentencing will require that Esquivel serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence. Upon his release from custody, Esquivel will be placed on Mandatory Supervised Release for a period of between three years to natural life. He will also be required to register as a sexual predator for the remainder of his life.
State’s Attorney Randi Freese commends the victims for having the courage to come forward to report this abuse. Ms. Freese is grateful for the swift response and thorough investigation led by Detective Carmen Sacco of the Harvard Police Department.
Freese also recognizes the Child Advocacy Center of McHenry County and members of the medical staff at Northwestern Medicine Hospital for their work on this case and their continued dedication to child victims.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Margaret O’Brien.
