Rape hearing may be next week

An Elgin teenager could be in a Kane County courtroom next week on rape charges, offenses prosecutors say took place before he was accused in the stabbing of an Elgin High School teacher.

Angel Facio Jr., is charged with sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl in August, about five months before the Jan. 18 attack at the school.

Facio, 16, is being held in a Chicago juvenile detention center on attempted murder and other offenses in the attack on teacher Carolyn Gilbert, but Kane County prosecutors have filed paperwork to have him transferred for a Feb. 22 court appearance.

The Kane County charges are felonies which require the sophomore to stand trial as an adult. A decision is pending on whether the stabbing case also will be decided in adult court in Cook County.

The delay in filing the sex assault charges against Facio is being scrutinized by State's Attorney John Barsanti, who is recommending changes in cases coming from the county's Child Advocacy Center.

Gilbert was attacked while she was alone with Facio in a classroom after an early dismissal from semester exams, police have said.

A coat was thrown over her head and she was stabbed in the head and neck with a steak knife police have said, suffering the loss of vision in one eye.