Area Priest's Bond to Be Set Today

By Jeff Bonty
Daily Journal
November 1, 2017

http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/area-priest-s-bond-to-be-set-today/article_6d4c3c0c-4ed0-57f7-83c2-fbda81de78ca.html

Father Richard E. Jacklin, who assists with Masses at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Goodrich, is scheduled to be in court today for his bond to be set after he was arrested by Illinois State Police on Tuesday and charged with sexually assaulting a resident at Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee.

The 65-year-old Jacklin has been preliminarily charged by state police with criminal sexual assault by force and sexual misconduct of a person with a disability.

"We are still gathering information," Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe told the Daily Journal on Wednesday.

Rowe said he would not comment further until after Jacklin's bond is set in Kankakee County court today.

Jacklin, who was ordained June 2, 1984, has been assigned to Sacred Heart since 2005, according to the Diocese of Joliet.

Jacklin was assigned as resident at St. Rose of Lima Church in Kankakee from 1996-2005.

While associate pastor at St. Margaret Mary Catholic in Naperville in December 1986, Jacklin was seriously injured when he was hit by a vehicle as he crossed a road at night, according to a story published in the Chicago Tribune on Sept. 28, 1988.

He was in a coma for two weeks.

Jacklin returned to St. Margaret Mary in the summer of 1987.

The Diocese of Joliet released a statement to the Daily Journal Wednesday afternoon:

"The Diocese of Joliet received an inquiry about the arrest of Father Richard E. Jacklin early this morning from a member of the media. We were not aware of the arrest and made immediate calls to authorities to gain an insight as to what transpired. We have been unable to gain any more information other than what was printed and posted in the Daily Journal.

"As always, we will cooperate with law enforcement and as details emerge from this ongoing investigation, we will be able to make a more thorough statement."