Elgin man pleads not guilty to jogger attacks

An Elgin man accused of battering and restraining two female joggers last year on the Fox River Trail pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Francisco Cruz, 19, of the 100 block of Center Street, was arraigned on two counts of aggravated battery and one count each of unlawful restraint and aggravated unlawful restraint. He faces up to five years in prison and $25,000 in fines if convicted of the most serious offense, a Class 3 felony, Kane County Judge Allen M. Anderson said.

Cruz was arrested in December and charged in a pair of attacks on the Kane County Forest Preserve District's Fox River Trail on Sept. 27 and Dec. 1, 2009. Police said the victims were approached from behind as they jogged near Covey Street and Elgin Avenue in Elgin.

On Wednesday, Cruz's attorney, Julio Valdez, declined to comment in detail, noting the case was still in its early stages.

"We're just looking forward to getting the police reports to find out all of the allegations," he said.

Authorities say the victim in the earlier incident was nearly pulled into the attacker's vehicle before breaking free; the other told police she was hit in the head with a blunt object and lost consciousness, then somehow managed to escape. Both gave matching descriptions of an older tan car.

Cruz, who is free on bond, also faces domestic battery charges in two unrelated cases pending in Kane County, according to court records. His next court date is March 31.