Former Sterling man accused of breaking into Sterling home and sexually assaulting woman at knifepoint – Shaw Local

MORRISON – A former Sterling man already jailed in Whiteside County since late March for violating a protective order is now accused of entering a Sterling home earlier this month, sexually assaulting a woman at knifepoint and threatening to kill her to kill.

Michael C. Cover, 30, whose most recent address lists him as living in Rockford, was formally charged May 14 with two counts of aggravated sexual assault; one count of criminal sexual assault; two counts of trespassing; two counts of domestic battery causing bodily harm; and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with the home invasion and assault that authorities say occurred March 17. Cover made his first court appearance Wednesday morning in Whiteside County Court on those charges.

Court documents filed in the March 17 case indicate Cover has been convicted of domestic violence four times in Lee County – in December 2011, November 2012, June 2016 and January 2019.

Cover has been in custody since late March for a separate case in which he is accused of violating a protective order issued on March 13. He is accused of violating the protective order on March 25 when he approached the same residence where he would later stay. He was accused of entering the home on March 17. He appeared in court on March 26 on the protective order violation charge and has been in custody since then, according to court records. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.

He remains jailed in Whiteside County pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 31 at 1 p.m. A preliminary hearing on the nine charges is scheduled for June 3 at 1 p.m.

His preliminary hearing in the protective order violation case was continued until 9 a.m. June 12, with a jury trial scheduled for July 9.