Palatine man who fled with 13-year-old girl arrested in Indiana

A 19-year-old Palatine man, who was convicted last year of sexual battery against a 13-year-old girl, was arrested in Indiana this week after police there found him with the girl he had abused.

The strange case found its way back to Cook County court in Rolling Meadows Saturday where Oscar Lopez stood before Judge Ketki Steffen to deal with two arrests warrants that were issued last summer.

After his conviction, Lopez was sentenced to three years in prison, but the sentence was suspended, prosecutors said. Lopez failed to appear in court July 28 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Then another warrant was issued Aug. 5 for felony child abduction after authorities said he and his underage victim ran off together.

The circumstances around his arrest in Indiana are unclear, but prosecutors believe authorities found the girl first and then tracked down Lopez. He was then extradited to Cook County.

His bail was set at $55,000 and he needs 10 percent of that to be released from jail. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 16.