CLINTON COUNTY, IL — For the first time in more than two-and-a-half years, a Clinton County sexual assault case against a 22-year-old Beckemeyer man will have a court hearing today. Andrew Lewis is charged in the case with three counts Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault by force.
The case was filed in 2017 following an alleged incident involving graduating high school seniors in Germantown.

Lewis has remained free on bond since shortly after his arrest but the case has languished in court since January 18, 2019, when Judge Daniel Hartigan was assigned the case. He’s currently the Jasper County Resident Judge. Today‘s hearing is scheduled in response to a defense motion to release Lewis’ cash bond. An order has also been entered vacating Hartigan’s assignment to the case. Three judges in the circuit had previously recused themselves from the case.

Former Clinton County State’s Attorney John Hudspeth placed the case in the hands of the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office but only after first taking it before a grand jury. According to Defense Attorney Tim Huyett, the case has had problems with discovery of evidence from the prosecution, and that the defense has even called the former State’s Attorney to testify in the case.

We’ve reached out to the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office multiple times for an explanation for why the case has not seen any activity for more than two years but they have never returned our calls.