Sentencing for kidnapping, assault of 3-year-old Mundelein girl set for April 26
A Chicago man convicted last year of kidnapping a 3-year-old Mundelein girl and filming himself sexually assaulting her in his vehicle finally will be sentenced next month.
Sentencing for Jose Reyes, 32, had been delayed while attorneys awaited military records showing he was honorably discharged from his service.
Those records recently arrived, allowing Lake County Judge Mark Levitt to schedule an April 26 sentencing hearing for Reyes, who faces up to 120 years behind bars.
The judge convicted Reyes Nov. 3 on charges of aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, predatory criminal sexual assault, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography stemming from the Sept. 30, 2013 abduction.
Authorities said Reyes approached the child and her 9-year-old sister near the entrance of the Deepwoods Apartment Complex on the 500 block of Deepwoods Drive and offered the girls lollipops.
After they refused the candy, Reyes left and drove around the complex. He returned and grabbed the younger girl, buckled her in the front seat and drove off while her sister screamed for help, authorities said.
Video played at the trial shows the child was molested in the car by Reyes, who then dropped her off about a half-hour later in a nearby parking lot, authorities said.
Police located surveillance video showing the girl being dropped off to identify Reyes' vehicle, then tracked him down using data from the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles and traffic tickets issued in Mundelein.
Reyes was arrested at his workplace in Libertyville four days later. Search warrants were used to obtain evidence, including cellphone video and pictures of the assault, DNA tests, GPS routes stored in the vehicle, and the discovery of the same candy in the car used in the attempt to lure the girls.
Reyes has been in custody at the county jail since his conviction, when the court revoked his $5 million bail.