According to officials, a former Chicago Police Officer was indicted on a federal civil rights charge for allegedly kidnapping and sexually abusing a person while on duty.
According to an indictment unsealed Wednesday, James Sajdak, 64, of Chicago, was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Sajdak allegedly kidnapped and sexually abused the victim in Chicago on March 5, 2019.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the one-count indictment against Sajdak contains few details, but it alleges the incident occurred March 5, 2019. Sajdak also faced a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Tyshee Featherstone, a transgender female, alleging Sajdak sexually assaulted her the same day, the Sun-Times reported.
Featherstone’s complaint was settled in April 2020, records show. Her attorney could not be reached for comment, the Chicago Sun Times reported.
The charge in the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
Sajdak plead not guilty Wednesday during his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox.
A status hearing was scheduled for October 12
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Morgan for the Northern District of Illinois is prosecuting the case.