Glendale Heights man accused of preying on young girl

A Glendale Heights man accused of sexually preying on a young girl for more than half her life was ordered held in the DuPage County jail Tuesday on $500,000 bail.

Jesus Ortiz-Balbuena, 41, of the 2200 block of Century Point Lane, faces charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

At a bond hearing Tuesday, prosecutors said Ortiz-Balbuena repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl who was known to him over a period of nine years, beginning when she was 6. The alleged victim is now 15, authorities said.

The abuse, Assistant State's Attorney Nick Catizone told Judge Michael Wolfe, “progressed when she reached fourth grade — and continued until about three weeks ago.”

Wolfe upheld a previously set bail of $500,000 and ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victim or any other children should he put up the necessary $50,000 bond to be released pretrial.

Ortiz-Balbuena told the judge through a Spanish interpreter that he has four children and works as a waiter.

“I don't agree with the charges,” he said.