Aurora man found guilty of raping girl

An Aurora man faces up to 15 years in prison after being convicted of raping a teenage girl, the Kane County state's attorney's office said Wednesday.

Justin J. Gonzalez, 19, of the 400 block of Kingsbury Avenue, was found guilty late Tuesday of one count of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony, after a bench trial in front of Judge Thomas E. Mueller.

Prosecutors said Gonzalez forced himself upon the victim, who was younger than 17 at the time, on Feb. 13, 2009, after he and two friends provided the girl and her friend, also underage, with tequila and marijuana.

The assault happened after two of Gonzalez's friends saw the girls walking away from East Aurora High School and asked if they wanted to hang out, authorities said. After driving around briefly, the three met up with Gonzalez at a residence on the 400 block of East Avenue, where the assault later took place. No one else was charged.

Gonzalez, who previously has been convicted of weapon and auto theft charges, faces four to 15 years in prison at sentencing, prosecutors said.

His next court date is Sept. 8.