Rolling Meadows man charged with abusing girl over several years

A Rolling Meadows man accused of sexually molesting a girl for more than three years was ordered held on $500,000 bail Wednesday.

Denis Hernandez, 42, is charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault. According to Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maureen McGee, the girl said the abuse began in January 2012 when she was 10 years old and continued until last week, when she informed a relative.

Prosecutors say the girl's family members confronted Hernandez about the accusations and he apologized. That apology was captured on cellphone video, which the family turned over to police, McGee said.

If convicted, Hernandez could face a sentence of up to 210 years in prison, McGee said. Cook County Judge Joel Greenblatt ordered Hernandez to have no contact with the girl or anyone else under age 18.

Hernandez, who has no criminal background, next appears in court on Sept. 24.