Elk Grove man facing trial on allegations he abused friend's daughters

An Elk Grove Village man is scheduled to stand trial this week on accusations he sexually abused a friend's 5- and 9-year-old daughters and photographed the attacks.

Scott J. Gates, 35, of the 600 block of Carroll Square, has been held on $250,000 bail charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 30 years in prison.

Jury selection is slated to begin today with opening arguments set for Tuesday.

Prosecutors said the victims were asleep in a family room of their Addison home in June 2011 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, prosecutors said. The 5-year-old also witnessed the attack and flash of the camera, authorities say.

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, prosecutors 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.