Suspected illegal immigrant nabbed in molestation case

Collaboration by police in Round Lake Park and Texas has led to a suspected illegal immigrant being charged with molesting a girl four years ago, authorities said.

Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said Tomas Hernandez, 38, was held Monday on $500,000 bond at the Lake County jail. Hernandez was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child in Round Lake Park.

Filenko said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has a hold on Hernandez, who is believed to have used a false Social Security number for several years. He said additional charges against Hernandez are expected.

“Child predators need to take note that time, distance and deceit will not prevent law enforcement from tracking down those that harm children,” Filenko said.

Filenko said the investigation into Hernandez began in September when the victim, now 11, reported to authorities in Bastrop County, Texas, that she was molested by the suspect while she was living with her family in Round Lake Park from 2006 to 2007.

Round Lake Park authorities were informed about the allegations by sheriff's detectives in Bastrop County, which is about 30 miles southeast of Austin. The Texas and Round Lake Park police then collaborated on the case, Filenko said.

After contacting Hernandez's local associates, Filenko said, Round Lake Park detectives learned he lived in Chicago and worked as a busboy at a Northbrook restaurant. Hernandez was arrested at the eatery about 4 p.m. Friday.

“He was in complete shock,” Filenko said of Hernandez's reaction. “We're talking almost four years.”

Filenko credited detectives for tracking down Hernandez and piecing together evidence despite the difficulty posed by his suspected illegal status in the United States.