The former Henry County jail administrator won’t serve any jail time after reaching a fully-negotiated plea agreement with the state in Henry County Circuit Court Friday.
Jerrico Lessard pleaded guilty to one count of obscenity, a Class A misdemeanor, in exchange for the state dismissing four felony counts of dissemination of private sexual images. Under the plea agreement, Lessard will receive 24-months of supervised probation. Lessard will be required to report to the Knox County Court Services.
The plea also included fines and fees totaling $950 and a 60-day jail sentence that was stayed pending compliance. Lessard is to have no contact with the two victims.
Judge Colby Hathaway questioned Special Prosecutor Brian Brim on whether the two victims had been notified of the plea agreement. Brim said they had been notified and “understand how we got here,” adding that they were satisfied with the explanation.
Brim told the court that the evidence would show that the Illinois State Police began an investigation of Lessard in January of this year. Photos on Lessard’s phone of the two victims were sent to his co-workers and those photos would be considered obscene.
Lessard was hired by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in October of 2012 and promoted to jail administrator. After allegations of off-duty misconduct by Lessard came to light, the HCSO launched an investigation. On Jan. 8, 2024, Lessard was placed on administrative leave and resigned his position on Jan. 23, 2024, after the ISP took over the investigation. He was charged with the four felony counts in May of 2024.
Lessard pleaded guilty to a charge of obscenity, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
