The former Henry County jail administrator, Jericco JC Lessard, has been charged with four counts of non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images, according to court documents filed in the Henry County Circuit Court on Thursday, April 11. Lessard was hired by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in October of 2012.

On Jan. 7, according to a news release from the HCSO issued in February, the department was made aware of off duty allegations of misconduct by Lessard. On Jan. 8, the HCSO began an internal investigation and placed Lessard on paid administrative leave.

During the course of the investigation, the matter was turned over to the Illinois State Police for “an independent and transparent investigation,” according to the statement.

It was during that investigation on the 23rd of January that the HSCO received a letter of resignation from Lessard, who was appointed to the position of jail administrator in 2021.

Non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images is a Class 4 felony and punishable with a sentence of not less than one year and not more than three years in prison.

Lessard’s first court appearance is set for May 20.