2nd Woman, 3rd Person Sentenced for Incest Against 3 Children

Michigan woman sentenced in child sex abuse case

JACKSON COUNTY, Illinois
A Michigan woman was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal sexual assault Friday in Jackson County, Illinois, according to the state's attorney's office.

The attorney's office says 35-year-old Armanda Gordon, of Ludington, Michigan, pleaded guilty to the felony charge on Nov. 18. The charge stems from an investigation into allegations of the sexual abuse of two children. In that investigation, the children said Robert Pleasant, with whom the attorney's office says Gordon was in a relationship, abused them sexually over a number of years. Pleasant was sentenced last week to 75 years in prison.

The attorney's office says one of the children also said Gordon committed acts of sexual abuse against the child. The attorney's office says Gordon admitted to participating in the abuse between 2003 and 2010, directed by Pleasant. 

Gordon was sentenced to serve six years in prison. She will have to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence, followed by a mandatory supervised release period of three years to natural life. She will also have to register as a sex offender for life. 

Robert Pleasant

Husband, wife charged with child sex assault

Jackson County
Jun 19, 2014  0
A husband and wife living in Wolf Lake, both formerly of Murphysboro, were arrested Wednesday night on sex crime charges.

Robert Pleasant, 36, faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. 

Bethany Pleasant, 25, faces one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and criminal sexual assault. 

They were arrested at their residence in Wolf Lake on outstanding Jackson County warrants.

The warrants were obtained after a nearly month-long investigation of alleged sexual abuse involving three minors. 

Two of the minors are Robert Pleasant's biological children. The other is his ex-girlfriend's child, who now lives in Michigan. 

His biological children were not currently living with the couple.

Both were taken to Jackson County Jail. Each has a $1 million bond.

Murphysboro Police, DCFS and the Michigan Child Protective Services Agency conducted the initial investigation. Union and Jackson County sheriff's offices and Illinois State Police assisted in the apprehension of the suspects.

Bethany Pleasant

Wolf Lake, IL woman sentenced for criminal sexual assault

Updated: Feb 03, 2015 2:18 PM PST
Amber Ruch

WOLF LAKE, IL (KFVS) -
A Wolf Lake, Illinois woman has been sentenced for criminal sexual assault.

According to Michael C. Carr, Jackson County State's Attorney, Bethany R. Pleasant, 25, was sentenced to prison on Monday, Feb. 2.

Pleasant entered a guilty plea on Nov. 13 to criminal sexual assault, a class 1 felony.

Carr said on Feb. 2, after a lengthy sentencing hearing, Pleasant was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. This sentence is subject to 85 percent truth-in-sentencing legislation, meaning she must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence.

Pleasant will serve three years to her natural life of mandatory supervised release after her release from the IDOC. She will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of her natural life.

Starting in May 2014, officers and detectives with the Murphysboro Police  Department started a large-scale investigation into alleged inappropriate sexual contact between Pleasant and the victim, who was about 13 years old when the acts happened. The victim told authorities about the acts of sexual conduct.

Detectives also interviewed several witnesses and executed some search warrants related to the investigation.

According to Carr, a large amount of digital evidence was collected during the investigation, which helped investigators with corroborating the abuse allegations.

On June 18, 2014, Pleasant was taken into custody.

The investigation was conducted by the Murphysboro Police Department. Assistant State's Attorney Casey Bloodworth prosecuted this case.