BigLaw partner charged in sexual assault case
A longtime real estate partner at the Chicago headquarters of Sidley Austin has been charged with criminal sexual assault and is on leave from the firm.
Stanley B. Stallworth, 50, is accused along with his 22-year-old nephew of sexually assaulting at his home on Thanksgiving an 18-year-old man his nephew had met at a barbershop in suburban Chicago and invited over, according to the Chicago Tribune and DNAinfo.
The two men urged the alleged victim to drink a couple of cocktails there, and he blacked out and awakened as he was vomiting and being sexually assaulted in a bathroom of the home, according to court records. The 18-year-old said he awakened naked the next day, was driven home by the nephew to his mother’s place in the suburbs, told her of the incident and went to the hospital for an examination.
Stallworth’s nephew is a college student and works for a bank, the Chicago Sun-Times (sub. req.) reports.
In a written statement provided to DNAinfo by Sidley Austin, the firm noted that the criminal case has nothing to do with Stallworth’s activities there or the practice of law and said “we understand that Stan … intends to vigorously contest those allegations.” Stallworth, it continues, requested and was granted leave from Sidley so that he could “devote his full attention to addressing these charges.”
Bond was set at $150,000 for each defendant during a Friday court hearing, and Stallworth’s lawyer said his client expected to post bond later in the day.
Stallworth joined Sidley in 1990, after he earned his law degree at the University of Wisconsin. He has been a partner of the firm for over 20 years, the Tribune reports.
The Sun-Times and Tribune articles do not include any comment from Sidley, and a partner told the ABA Journal by email that the firm has a policy of not commenting on personnel matters.
Updated on Dec. 7 to include response from Sidley Austin.
