Plea deal offered for suspect in North Shore Bike Path attack

Prosecutors have offered a plea deal to a Waukegan man accused of attacking a female jogger on the North Shore Bike Path near Libertyville earlier this summer.

Denilson J. Martinez-Rodriguez, 21, was offered a deal that would require him to plead guilty to a single count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for grabbing the woman June 15 near the Route 176 underpass, Lake County prosecutor Eric Kalata told Judge Victoria Rossetti Tuesday morning.

If he accepts the offer, Martinez-Rodriguez could face three to seven years in prison at a future sentencing hearing, though probation also would be possible.

Defense attorney Doug Grimes requested a presentencing report be prepared for Martinez-Rodriguez to help both sides resolve the case. Grimes said the report would involve sex offender and psychological evaluations for the Waukegan man.

Because court services needs time to complete the report, the trial date for Martinez-Rodriguez was delayed from Sept. 29 to Nov. 3.

Authorities said the 22-year-old woman was running west on the bike path when she noticed her way blocked by pooling water under the Route 176 underpass.

As she tried to scramble up a rocky embankment to get around the water, authorities said, she was grabbed around the waist from behind by an unseen attacker.

The jogger elbowed the person twice in the ribs, authorities said, giving her time to scramble up the side of the embankment and call for help. The attacker fled the area, officials said.

Lake County Forest Preserve officers identified Martinez-Rodriguez after receiving video of him and his vehicle from a neighboring gas station, authorities said. He was arrested about a week later in Gowe Park near Gurnee, after he was spotted bothering joggers, authorities said.

Police said Martinez-Rodriguez admitted to the attack during questioning.

Martinez-Rodriguez is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint, and aggravated battery. He remains in custody in Lake County jail on $500,000 bail, of which he must post 10 percent to be released.

He's due to return to court Oct. 18.