Rake man accused of sexual abuse pleads guilty to lesser charges

FOREST CITY — A Rake man accused of multiple counts of sexual abuse has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors.

19-year-old Jaycob Guthart was charged last October with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, each a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, after authorities in a criminal complaint stated that Guthart allegedly admitted to sexually assaulting a 12-year-old female on two separate occasions in September or October of 2023.

Guthart was also charged last October with one count of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison, after he allegedly assaulted a different victim in December 2023 while the victim was asleep.

As part of the plea agreements, Guthart pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree sexual abuse in the child sexual abuse case, and one count of assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse in the December 2023 case.

A plea hearing has been set for November 18th in Winnebago County District Court.