Man who apologized after West Chicago rape might be unfit for trial

A West Chicago man who is accused of raping a woman, then returning to her house three weeks later to apologize, may not be fit to stand trial.

DuPage Circuit Judge Kathryn Creswell said Monday doubt exists about Salvador Alvarado's mental fitness based on a forensic psychologist's recent report.

Prosecutors are expected to decide by June 8 whether they'll challenge those findings and hire their own expert to evaluate Alvarado. Ultimately, it's up to Creswell to rule whether the 38-year-old man is mentally fit now or after he receives treatment at a state-run mental facility.

Alvarado is being held on a $1 million bond in the DuPage County jail. He is charged with home invasion, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint.

He is accused of breaking into a woman's house at 10:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008 on the 700 block of Pine Street in West Chicago and sexually assaulting her.

Police said the woman reported her attacker apologized and professed his love before fleeing. They said the two did not know each other beforehand.

Then, three weeks later, police arrested Alvarado after they said he returned to the woman's house to apologize again with the hope she would forgive him and agree to a romantic relationship.

His attorney, Tony Coco, a senior assistant public defender, said Monday that the psychologist, Dr. John Murray, found that Alvarado cannot adequately understand the nature of the legal proceedings against him.

Coco said Alvarado has a history of mental illness and voluntarily underwent psychiatric hospitalization in late September/October 2008, after the crime.

Alvarado, 247 North Neltnor Blvd., has a criminal history that includes two misdemeanor convictions for theft and battery in DuPage County.