People v. Kernel

PRESIDING JUSTICE MURRAY

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Kevin Zernel (Zernel), was charged in a 20-count indictment with aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, armed violence and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The charges stemmed from an incident involving a young woman, D.B., which took place on April 15, 1990, in defendant’s Berwyn, Illinois, residence. Prior to trial the State nol-prossed all but seven of the charges and, in a jury trial which commenced October 16, 1991, Zernel was tried on six counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and one…