Trial begins for man accused of abducting, assaulting toddler in Mundelein
Jose Reyes created "every parent's nightmare" when he abducted a 3-year-old child outside a Mundelein apartment complex, then molested her in his car on Sept. 30, 2013, a prosecutor said Tuesday as the Chicago man's trial got underway in a Lake County courtroom.
However, defense attorneys said the voluminous pile of evidence stacked against Reyes, 31, is almost "too perfect" and that police botched the investigation by focusing on only one person in an effort to make a quick arrest and keep public hysteria down.
"Police focused solely on that person and not any other person throughout the investigation," defense attorney Katherine Hatch said during opening statements.
Reyes, of the 4900 block of West North Avenue, is facing up to 150 years in prison if found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, predatory criminal sexual assault, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography stemming from the child's abduction.
He remains held in Lake County jail in lieu of $5 million bail.
Authorities said Reyes approached the 3-year-old child and her 9-year-old sister near the entrance to the Deepwoods Apartment complex on the 500 block of Deepwoods Drive.
Reyes initially offered the girls a lollipop, but it was refused, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Fred Day said Tuesday. He then left in a vehicle but drove around the apartment complex, stopped the car, grabbed the girl and then sped off while the 9-year-old screamed for help, authorities said.
After police were called to the scene, a woman found the girl wandering outside a nearby apartment. She walked the child back to police.
Prosecutors say the detailed investigation that followed produced a mountain of evidence against Reyes. That includes video surveillance showing the girl being dropped off, DNA tests, eyewitness statements, GPS routes stored in his car, and the discovery of the same candy in Reyes' vehicle that was used to lure the girls, authorities said.
Day said prosecutors also will present a video Reyes made of the sexual assault.
The trial is expected to last the remainder of the week.