Prosecutors: Man accused of sex assault wrote victim’s family
A Palatine man held at Cook County Jail on sexual assault and child pornography charges could have his $200,000 bail increased, if a request by prosecutors is granted.
Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Sharon Kantor on Tuesday informed Cook County Judge Kay Hanlon that Candido Chavez-Barreto, 44, wrote a letter to the family of the complaining witness asking for their forgiveness and requesting the return of his property. Prosecutors asked for a bond increase for Chavez-Barreto, who they say violated another judge’s order that he have no contact with the 16-year-old witness or her family.
Police charged the defendant with aggravated criminal sexual assault and child pornography after a relative of the girl found a cellphone memory card containing images of her and Chavez-Barreto engaged in sexual activities. During an interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County, the girl told a counselor she and the defendant engaged in sexual activities from April 2011 through February of this year and that he threatened financial harm to her family if she refused, said a spokeswoman with the Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney.
Hanlon may rule on the state’s motion at Chavez-Barreto’s next hearing Sept. 25.