Foster parent indicted; lawyer seeks reduced bond

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A River Forest man, Robert L. Gaskill, 63, who took in dozens of foster children since 1996 and volunteered with local youth groups was charged Friday with the sexual abuse of two girls. February 4, 2012 | Provided photo

Updated: April 2, 2012 8:15AM

River Forest resident Robert Gaskill has been indicted by a grand jury in two cases of alleged predatory criminal sexual abuse.

The 63-year-old foster parent of 75 children since 1996 and local youth volunteer was charged Feb. 3 with the sexual abuse of two girls in his care.

Gaskill, who has been held in protective custody at the Cook County Jail, appeared before a judge Friday when he was informed that the indictments supersede the two criminal complaints against him. Details were not made available from the Cook County State’s Attorney because indictments were “red flagged.”

“That means they’re pretty much on lock down,” said Sue Rock of the Maybrook 4th District county clerk’s office. “It’s never going to be made public, due to the ages of the victims.”

Such files, she said, can only be disclosed with the permission of a judge.

Prior to the hearing, Gaskill’s defense attorney, Kelly L. Seago, received permission to withdraw as his attorney. She was replaced by veteran defense attorney Ellen R. Domph.

Domph made a motion for a reduction of a bond currently set at $50 million cash, and informed the court she would be filing a written motion. She asked that a hearing be scheduled sooner than March 16, but was told the grand jury filings would not be ready before that date.

The judge said any ruling on bond reduction would be up to Judge Noreen Love, though he did state the bond was one that “no human could make.”

After waiting some 90 minutes in the hall and another 30 minutes in the courtroom for her husband, Mary Cook Gaskill sat quietly with a hand by her chin as she waited for him to arrive shortly before 11 a.m.

As they did at Gaskill’s arraignment, the 30 supporters started to stand when Gaskill entered the court, but were immediately admonished by two court bailiffs, who waved downward and said, “Sit, sit!”

As Gaskill left the courtroom, people smiled, waved and blew kisses to him.

Gaskill’s next court date is in Love’s courtroom on at 9:30 a.m. March 16.