Elgin man guilty of assaulting child, faces at least 27 years in prison

An Elgin man faces a minimum of 27 years in prison after a Kane County jury convicted him of predatory criminal sexual assault, prosecutors said.

During a two-day trial, prosecutors showed that Armando Vega, 51, of the 300 block of Shiloh Lane, assaulted a girl younger than 13 between February 2007 and February 2011 while she was sleeping on a couch at a relative's home.

A jury returned the verdict late Tuesday night and Vega, who had been free on $7,500 bond, was taken into custody and his bond was revoked.

Vega, who knew his victim, will be sentenced March 13 by Judge Clint Hull.

Vega was arrested in January 2014. He faces 27 to 120 years in prison and must register as a sex offender for the rest of this life if he eventually is released from prison. He did not have a previous felony record in Kane County, records show.

"We cannot stress enough our admiration and respect for the courage shown by child victims of sexual assault when they come forward to tell their story, especially when they've been victimized by an adult who should be caring for and protecting them," State's Attorney Joe McMahon said in a prepared statement.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State's Attorneys Lori Schmidt and Andrew Whitfield.