Stalking case nets Round Lake Beach man deportation

A Round Lake Beach man accused of stalking a teenage girl pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

A prosecutor said the guilty plea from Francisco Velasquez, 24, would result in his immediate deportation from this country.

Assistant State's Attorney Reginald Matthews said the victim was walking to school the morning of Oct. 14 when a man in a red car pulled up next to her and asked her if she wanted a ride.

The girl said no, Matthews said, but the man in the car followed her until she reached the school.

Once at the school, Matthews said, the girl reported the incident to the school resource officer who called for Round Lake Beach police to search the area for the car.

Two days later, Matthews said, the girl reported seeing the same car parked in a lot along her route, and the man inside motioned for her to come over to the vehicle.

When she did not, Matthews said, the car once again followed her to the school.

On Oct. 19, police met with the girl and her parents and she agreed to walk her normal route to the school while police watched from several concealed positions along the route.

The girl signaled police when she again spotted the car with the same man inside, and identified Velasquez as the man who had been pestering her after he was arrested.

He was charged with stalking, a felony punishable by up to three years in prison.

After he was taken to the Lake County jail, federal officials determined Velasquez was in this country illegally and ordered him deported to Mexico at the conclusion of the case against him.

Matthews agreed to reduce the charge to misdemeanor attempted stalking in exchange for the guilty plea, and Velasquez was sentenced to time served in jail.

Matthews said federal officials were expected to take Velasquez into their custody and deport him before the end of the week.