Man gets freedoms in child-sex case

Urbana suspect gets OK to leave state, go to store, bank.

The Urbana man accused of child sex crimes against three victims was given more freedom by the court at a recent hearing.

According to court documents obtained by the Springfield News-Sun, Jeffrey McClain was granted permission to travel to and from various locations in Urbana and to attend an outof-state flight instructor seminar later this month.

“The defendant may depart Urbana on Friday January 18, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. and must return to Urbana no later than Sunday January 20, 2019 at 10:00 p.m.,” the document said regarding McClain’s flight seminar. “The defendant shall remain at the hotel throughout the conference seminar.”

The bond modification also grants McClain permission to go to and from the Walmart, Civista Bank, Great Clips and Speedway — all in the city of Urbana on specific dates and times.

McClain, 63, is accused of rape, gross sexual imposition, attempted gross sexual imposition and child endangering. According to McClain’s indictment, the alleged incidents took place between April 2017 and November 2018 and involved three children who were all under the age of 13 when the incidents allegedly happened.

It’s not clear where specifically the alleged acts took place, aside from they happened in Champaign County. It’s also not clear what exactly happened between McClain and the alleged victims.

At a previous hearing before a magistrate on Dec. 20, McClain was released on his own recognizance and placed on house arrest with an ankle monitor. He was granted permission to attend doctors’ appointments and church, but as a condition of his release he isn’t allowed to have contact with the three alleged victims.