Oak Forest man gets 13 years in prison for sex abuse

An Oak Forest man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for multiple incidents of sexual abuse against a former family member.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced Thursday that Luis Pereira, 48, was sentenced by Judge Daniel Guerin after pleading guilty to one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony, and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony.

Pereria will be required to serve about nine and a half years of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He is required to register as a sex offender for life.

Authorities said that from April 2002 through April 2006, Pereira sexually assaulted a girl at her Hanover Park home.

The abuse came to light when the girl told her therapist what Pereira had done to her, authorities said.

An investigation headed by the DuPage County Children’s Advocacy Center, with assistance from the Hanover Park Police Department, led to Pereira.

Pereira was arraigned on the charges on March 22 and has been in custody since on a $250,000 bond.

“For four years, this young victim endured repeated sexual abuse from a man whom she thought could be trusted,” Berlin said. “Thanks to her courage however, Mr. Pereira will be held accountable for what he did.

“I would like to thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward. She has shown tremendous strength throughout this entire ordeal and for that I commend her.”

Berlin also thanked the Hanover Park Police Department and the DuPage County Children’s Center, particularly Investigator Steve Arp, for their efforts on this case.

He also thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Kirsten King for her work.