Glendale Heights man gets 18 years for assaulting girl, 9

A former Glendale Heights man was sentenced to an 18-year prison term Monday for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl who authorities say was provided to him by one of her family members.

Sabino Martinez, 67, who pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault of a child in June, also must register as a sex offender for life.

DuPage County prosecutors said Martinez held down and raped a 9-year-old girl in 2006 after his former girlfriend — a relative of the victim — provided the child to him for sex in place of herself.

Authorities said Martinez later admitted to inappropriate touching, telling investigators “sometimes young girls fall in love with older men.”

Judge George Bakalis called that statement “ludicrous” Monday as he sentenced Martinez to 18 years, as prosecutors requested.

“He seemed to think his conduct was induced by this young girl. I think it's very likely to recur because this defendant has no concept, no grasp that his conduct was wrong,” Bakalis said.

Assistant State's Attorney Anne Therieau said Martinez began abusing the victim in early 2003, when she was about 5, and continued through December 2006.

In one case, Christina Sykora, 40, of Aurora, is accused of permitting Martinez to rape the victim at a residence in Lombard after he propositioned Sykora for sex and she turned him down.

Prosecutors said Sykora then watched the rape unfold while the child cried out to her.

Martinez could have faced up to 60 years in prison if convicted at trial. In court Monday, he said through a Spanish interpreter that he never raped the child.

Therieau said Martinez illegally emigrated from El Salvador to the U.S. in 1991 but later achieved legal residency. His prior criminal history included a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, she said.

Sykora was found unfit for trial in 2010, but that finding was reversed earlier this year and criminal charges against her are pending. She returns to court Aug. 10.