Quincy man found guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault

QUINCY — An Adams County jury found Bruce W. Gilker Jr. guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and sexual exploitation of a child after five hours of deliberation at the conclusion of a three-day trial on Wednesday.

Gilker, 41, was arrested at his home, 721 S. 13th, at 8:56 a.m. Aug. 11 by investigators with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, and he was indicted Sept. 23. A four-month-long investigation began on April 22, 2021, when a young child reported that the defendant had committed specific sexual acts to her and in her presence.

Gilker’s bond has been revoked. He is lodged in the Adams County Jail awaiting sentencing at 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 16. Gilker is facing a sentence of between 6 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He is not eligible for probation.