30-Year Prison Term in Shelby County Case

Oconee resident Danny Joe Steck has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after Steck pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and criminal sexual assault.

The 55-year-old Steck was arrested November 26, 2014, following an investigation by Rob McCall, Chief Investigator with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. McCall said he was contacted by a DCFS investigator concerning information the office had received regarding an alleged sexual assault. During a forensic interview, the victims explained that the abuse had been going on for several years. 

Shelby County State's Attorney Gina Vonderheide said Steck admitted in an interview with McCall that he had indeed molested the children. He was taken into custody where he remained until pleading guilty Friday.

Vonderheide said Steck is expected to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for release and will be on lifetime supervision once out of prison.