A former Galesburg gym owner who was charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated sexual abuse in 2022 looks to finally stand trial in May.
43-year-old Beau Admire, who formerly owned and operated Badger Combatives, faces three Class 1 felonies in Warren County for which he has pleaded not guilty.
Admire on April 5 waived his right to a jury trial, setting up a bench trial for May 30 at 9 a.m.
Admire’s charges are tied to three incidents that allegedly took place between 2010 and 2011 when the victim, was 13 and 14.
Warren County State’s Attorney Thomas Siegel has previously told WGIL that Admire is 16 years older than the victim, and held a position of trust or authority over the victim, in that he was her martial arts coach.
Siegel explains to WGIL that in a jury trial the jury is the fact finder and the judge makes legal rulings and controls the flow of proceedings.
Siegel says a bench trial has the judge serving both rules, although beneath the surface the “differences between bench and jury trials are many, and complex.”
Siegel says he believes the prevailing view of defense attorneys generally is that, where sexual assault cases are concerned, a jury is likelier to convict due to the inflammatory nature of the charges than they might otherwise be.
Judge James Standard is set to be the judge that presides over Admire’s bench trial.
However, Siegel says judicial assignments have been irregular since Chief Judge David Vancil was promoted to the appellate court.
Admire is being represented by Andrew Stuckart of Bougher, Krisher and Associates.
