Elburn man denies new sex assault claim

An Elburn man on probation for molesting a teenage girl in 2007 formally pleaded not guilty Thursday to new allegations he raped another teen near Cary at about the same time.

Sean A. Lewis, 20, of the 400 block of East Willow Street, asked for a jury trial on charges of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse stemming from new claims that led to his arrest early this month.

The not guilty plea came at the same court hearing in which a judge agreed to lower the amount of bond Lewis needs to post to go free from $7,500 to $4,000. Despite the bond reduction, however, Lewis remained in custody at the McHenry County jail late Thursday.

His March 2 arrest culminated an investigation begun in January after the girl told an adult Lewis had forced her into sex on several occasions between August 2006 and June 2007. The adult then reported her claims to police.

Lewis pleaded guilty in October to a misdemeanor charge of criminal sexual abuse stemming from a 14-year-old Cary girl's allegations he had sexual contact with her in January 2007. He was sentenced to two years probation, a 100-day suspended jail sentence, 100 hours of community service and was ordered to register as a sex offender.

Lewis is scheduled to return to court on the new charges April 29 for a pretrial status hearing. If found guilty, he would face a maximum four to 15 years in prison.