The attorney for Jericco Lessard, the former Henry County jail administrator charged with four counts of nonconsensual dissemination of sexual images, said that an offer from the prosecution could come within the next four weeks. Lessard has pleaded not guilty to the four counts.

Public Defender Lance Camp requested a continuance in Lessard’s case during a pretrial hearing in Henry County Circuit Court on Thursday. Camp told the court that he had held conversations with the special prosecutor, Lee County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Brim, on the case and was expecting an official offer.

Brim appeared in court via video link and confirmed that a plea offer would be forthcoming within a month.

Lessard, who was hired by the HCSO in October of 2012, faces four felony charges after allegations of off-duty misconduct led to an investigation first by the HCSO and then by the Illinois State Police. Once the allegations came to light, the county placed Lessard on administrative leave on Jan. 8, 2024. He resigned as jail administrator on Jan. 23, 2024.

According to the charges filed against him in April, Lessard is alleged to have disseminated images of two women, known only in court documents by their initials and birthdates. Three counts allege that Lessard disseminated photos of one of the women on Oct. 14, 2023. The counts further allege that Lessard shared images without permission where “intimate parts were exposed.” Images of a second woman were reportedly shared by Lessard on June 2 of 2023.

Nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images is a Class 4 felony, punishable by one to three years in prison, along with one-year of mandatory supervision and up to a $25,000 fine.

The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22.