Naperville Man Sentenced to Life in Texas Sexual Abuse Case

A Naperville man was sentenced to life in prison in Texas for the repeated sexual assault of a Plano, Texas girl. Naperville police played a critical role in the investigation leading to the prosecution. 

In June 2008, Stephen Silvey, 50, pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal abuse and possession of child pornography after a 16-year-old Naperville girl came forward in 2007 and reported that she had been repeatedly assaulted from the age of 7, according to the . Silvey received a sentence of 57 years in jail.

Naperville Police Investigator Erin Gibler was not satisfied with the outcome and was able to identify a second victim who was living in Plano, Texas, according to Naperville Police. Working with investigator Beth Chaney of the Plano Police Department it was determined that Silvey began abusing the victim at the age of 7. The girl was abused until the age of 13, according to a story in the Dallas Morning News.

“The victim’s family believed the offender to be a ‘friend’ of theirs via a past relationship,” Naperville police said in a news release.

The Dallas Morning News reported that Silvey was attracted to Korean girls and would befriend their families at Oklahoma State University, acting as if he was helping them. 

In Texas, Silvey was charged with crimes similar to those he was convicted of in Illinois, according to Naperville Police. Last week, Gibler and Computer Forensic Specialist Chris Berard traveled to Collins County, Texas to testify at Silvey’s trial. Silvey was sentenced to life in prison in Texas. He must serve out his sentence in Illinois before serving his sentence in Texas.