A former Chicago police officer was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday following a plea deal related to three separate cases where he was accused of sexually abusing a minor he met on the job and recorded sex acts.
Before Judge Kenneth Wadas at the Leighon Criminal Court Building, David P. DeLeon accepted the amended plea deal to aggravated criminal sexual abuse with a victim younger than 18 in exchange for prosecutors dropping nearly two dozen other felony charges, according to court records.
DeLeon’s arrest came as part of an investigation by the Cook County sheriff’s police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, authorities said.
He was first arrested in March 2023 for sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl in west suburban Norridge. He was subsequently stripped of his powers, according to published reports.
After his phone was seized, authorities found videos of DeLeon sexually abusing minors in his Northwest Side home, which brought additional indictments. In the three cases, DeLeon faced a raft of felony charges, including aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, child fondling, manufacturing and possession of child pornography and official misconduct, records show.
Prosecutors said that DeLeon met his young victims in his capacity as a police officer, invited them to his home, sexually abused and recorded sex acts with them on his phone.
Wadas also ordered DeLeon to turn over a DNA sample to the state and take an STD test, according to court records.
DeLeon has been in jail custody since August 2023 and was credited with the 798 days served.
While DeLeon was not listed among current city employees, a police spokesperson said they could only confirm his status as “inactive.”
