Lake Villa Township man denies child molesting charges
A Lake Villa Township man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he molested a 15-year-old girl.
David Hooks, 26, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ryan Koehl said the girl's mother was reading her daughter's diary on Nov. 7 of last year and found an entry saying the girl had had sex with Hooks at his residence in the 21000 block of Danny Lake Road on Oct. 22.
The mother confronted the girl, who said the entry was true, and she repeated the accusation during an interview with detectives at the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center on Nov. 9.
Hooks went voluntarily to the Lake County sheriff's office the following day and denied the accusation during an interview with detectives.
Hooks was charged the same day, and was released after posting $5,000 for bond.
Circuit Judge Daniel Shanes scheduled a trial of the case for April 23 and ordered Hooks to appear in court Feb. 14.