Former CPD officer sentenced to 1 year in federal prison for sexually assaulting victim while on duty

Gabriel Castillo
·1 min read
26

CHICAGO — A former Chicago police officer has been handed a year-long federal prison sentence for sexually assaulting a victim while on duty in 2019.

65-year-old James Sajdak, a Chicago resident, pleaded guilty in 2023 to one count of deprivation of civil rights, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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In a plea agreement, Sajdak admitted to sexually assaulting a victim on March 5, 2019.

Federal prosecutors say in the plea agreement, Sajdak admitted to approaching the victim on a street in West Garfield Park while on duty, driving a marked squad car and wearing a police uniform. Sajdak then implied to the victim that they could get in his squad car or face arrest.

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Prosecutors said after the victim complied with the demand and entered Sajdak’s squad car, he drove to a secluded area and forced the victim to engage in a sex act.

Sajdak was handed the one-year sentence by U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. during a hearing in federal court on Friday.

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