Round Lake Beach man pleads not guilty in child sex cases

A Round Lake Beach man police discovered was wanted in a 2002 child molesting case when they arrested him on current charges of the same nature pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Juan Garcia-Guerrero, 41, is charged with molesting a 9-year-old girl earlier this year and a 10-year-old girl nine years ago.

Assistant State's Attorney Patricia Fix said Round Lake Beach police were notified earlier this month after the 9-year-old girl told school officials that Garcia-Guerrero had molested her during the past several months.

After an investigation, Garcia-Guerrero was charged with predatory sexual assault of a child and was taken into custody Sept. 9 at his house in the 1200 block of Lotus Drive.

During the booking process, Fix said, a warrant was discovered charging Garcia-Guerrero with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

In that case, a girl who was 10 years old at the time was watching a movie with Garcia-Guerrero, who was a friend of her mother's, at his home in September 2002, Fix said. The girl later told her mother Garcia-Guerrero had molested her, but he dropped from site before a warrant was issued for his arrest for aggravated criminal sexual abuse in early 2003.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak told Garcia-Guerrero he faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted in the current case and an additional seven if convicted in the 2003 case.

Garcia-Guerrero is held on $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 13.