Prospect Heights man charged with abusing three girls

A 54-year-old Prospect Heights man was ordered held on a total bail of $525,000 on charges he sexually abused three girls ranging from 8 to 13 years old.

Antonio Ramos-Mendoza has been charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

If convicted of the most serious charge, he faces up to 30 years in prison.

In January, one of the girls told her parents Ramos-Mendoza abused her between July 2016 and July 2018 when she was 8 to 10 years old, and she told authorities the abuse took place at the defendant's home and at a Wheeling storage facility, prosecutors said.

While investigating her claims, authorities reopened an investigation into another sexual assault claim against Ramos-Mendoza, according to Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Ryan DeGroot.

The accuser in the reopened investigation said Ramos-Mendoza sexually abused her in November 2013 when she was 8 or 9 years old, prosecutors said.

During that accuser's interview, she told authorities a third girl told her Ramos-Mendoza also sexually abused her, they said.

Prosecutors say that abuse occurred in April 2013 when the girl was 13.

Cook County Judge Marc Martin ordered Ramos-Mendoza have no contact with the accusers or anyone under 18.

He must also submit to GPS monitoring if he posts bail.

Ramos-Mendoza next appears in court on May 17.