Elgin man who fled sex abuse trial gets 5 years' prison
A former Elgin man who was convicted of sexual abuse after he fled during his own trial has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Jaime Rodriquez, 50, of the 200 block of South Aldine Street, was sentenced by Kane County Judge Susan Clancy Boles this week and ordered to forfeit $7,500 in bail money, according to prosecutors.
Boles convicted Rodriquez on Oct. 8 of sexually abusing a girl younger than 18 in January 2014, a crime that also requires Rodriguez to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Rodriquez was free on bail when his bench trial began on Sept. 14, 2015. The trial was continued to Oct. 1, but Rodriguez failed to show up in court. Authorities searched for him without success and he was convicted in absentia.
At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Rodriguez entered the victim's bedroom and sexually abused her on Jan. 20, 2014. He faced a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest and anyone with information about Rodriguez or his location should call 911, Elgin police at (847) 289-2700, or the Kane County Sheriff's Department at (630) 232-6840.