Charges: Elk Grove man photographed sex attack on Addison girl

An Elk Grove Village man accused of sexually abusing a friend's 5- and 9-year-old daughters took a photo during one of the attacks, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Scott J. Gates, 32, of the 600 block of Carroll Square, was ordered held on $250,000 bail on charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child.

Authorities said the victims were asleep in a family room of their Addison home in June when the 9-year-old awoke to find Gates assaulting her.

Believing the attack to be a “nightmare,” the victim was trying to go back to sleep when she heard a camera flash and realized what was happening, DuPage County Prosecutor Louisa Nuckolls said in bond court. Nuckolls said the 5-year-old also witnessed the attack and camera flash.

Both girls ran to their grandmother's bedroom and reported what happened. The 5-year-old also reported that Gates had fondled her through her clothes on several occasions, Nuckolls said.

An arrest warrant was issued Dec. 22 and Gates was arrested Wednesday, court records show. Addison police have not provided further information.

Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail at $250,000. Nuckolls said Gates was paroled in 2009 from a seven-year prison term for aggravated battery with a firearm and has a 1999 conviction for theft of labor services.

Gates told the judge he has a daughter and works for a labor agency. If convicted of the most serious charge, he could face up to 30 years in prison.