Molester inmate charged in attack on cops

A convicted sex offender attacked a sergeant and two officers Tuesday at the Kane County jail in St. Charles, where he was being held on molestation charges, authorities said.

The attack happened about 7:20 p.m. when a sergeant confronted the inmate, James Earl Melvin Jr., 32, after he backed up the toilet in his cell. According to police, Melvin punched the sergeant and struggled with two backup officers as they tried to put him in handcuffs.

No one was seriously injured, "just bumps and bruises," Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler said.

Melvin, of Rockford, has been held on $1 million bond since his arrest in early March on charges he molested an 11-year-old girl in Carpentersville the month before. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault.

Court records show Melvin is a convicted sex offender who served prison time for two prior sexual assault convictions involving a girl younger than 13.

As a result of Tuesday's incident, Melvin faces three counts of aggravated battery to a police officer or government employee, a Class 2 felony, police said.

His first court date in the battery case is Aug. 12 before Judge James C. Hallock. He's scheduled to appear before Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon in the Carpentersville case Thursday.