Editing John Wayne Gacy (section)

==Conviction and imprisonment==
On November 7, 1968, Gacy pleaded guilty to one count of sodomy in relation to Voorhees, but not guilty to the charges related to other youths. He claimed Voorhees had offered himself to him and that he had acted out of curiosity. His story was not believed. Gacy was convicted of sodomy on December 3 and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, to be served at the [[Anamosa State Penitentiary]].{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|pp=256–278}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16816860/gacy-given-10-years-in-prison-on-morals/|title=Gacy Given 10 Years In Prison On Morals Charge|newspaper=[[The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier|The Courier]]|date=December 3, 1968|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929093424/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16816860/gacy-given-10-years-in-prison-on-morals/|archive-date=September 29, 2020}} {{free access}}</ref>{{sfn|Peck|Dolch|2001|p=260}} That same day, Gacy's wife petitioned for divorce, requesting she be awarded the couple's home and property, sole custody of their two children, and [[alimony]].{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=85–96}}{{sfn|Linedecker|1980|p=40}} The court ruled in her favor, and the divorce was finalized on September 18, 1969. Gacy never saw his first wife or children again.{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|pp=256–278}}

During his incarceration, Gacy rapidly acquired a reputation as a model prisoner.{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|pp=256–278}} Within months of his arrival, he had risen to the position of head cook. He also joined the inmate Jaycee chapter and increased its membership from 50 to 650 men in less than eighteen months. Gacy secured an increase in the inmates' daily pay in the prison mess hall and supervised several projects to improve conditions for inmates, including the installation of a [[miniature golf]] course;{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=85–96}}{{sfn|Foreman|1992|p=62}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36975184/john-gacy/|title='A Game that Teaches Discipline': Anamosa Reformatory Gets a Golf Course|newspaper=[[The Des Moines Register]]|date=November 2, 1969|access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> he was presented with a distinguished service award for his efforts within the inmate Jaycee chapter in February 1970.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36975346/john-gacy/|title=Reformatory Jaycees Give Honors to 47|newspaper=[[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)|The Gazette]]|date=February 18, 1970|access-date=February 25, 2023}}</ref>

In June 1969, Gacy was denied [[parole]]. To prepare for a second scheduled parole hearing in May 1970, he completed sixteen high school courses, obtaining his diploma in November 1969.{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|pp=256–278}} On Christmas Day 1969, Gacy's father died from [[cirrhosis]]. When informed of his father's death, Gacy collapsed to the floor, sobbing.{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|pp=256–278}} His request for supervised compassionate leave to attend the funeral was denied.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=85–96}}