Vernon Hills man charged with running molestation "club"
A Vernon Hills man was ordered held without bond today after officials said he molested at least 10 boys over a four-year period.
A prosecutor said Michael Rebecca, 50, organized the boys into a club with a hierarchy of membership that granted the victims more time with Rebecca as they advanced.
The case broke late Friday after a 16-year-old boy complained about Rebecca to the Lake County sheriff's office.
Based on the boy's complaint, Rebecca was taken into custody in Chicago later that same day and identified nine other victims to police during interviews over the weekend.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Steven Scheller said the all the boys were between the ages of 11 and 13 when Rebecca began molesting them. They live in Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Wheeling and Prospect Heights.
Scheller said Rebecca provided the victims with money and electronic devices, and ranked them at various levels within his sex club.
The boys at the highest level were allowed to spend more time with Rebecca, Scheller said, and Rebecca also organized sex games for them to play at his home at 750 Court of Birch, Apt. 1, Vernon Hills.
Rebecca faces multiple counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, and is due in court Nov. 14.