Carol Stream man accused of sexually assaulting girl, 12
A Carol Stream man accused of sexually assaulting a girl after taking her to a hotel for her 13th birthday was ordered held Thursday on $500,000 bail.
Antonio Penaflor, 39, of the 1400 block of Walnut Circle, appeared in DuPage County bond court on a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
Prosecutors said Penaflor took a 12-year-old girl who was known to him through one of her family members to a Wood Dale hotel in December for her upcoming 13th birthday. During the stay, Penaflor ordered room service and sexually assaulted the girl, Assistant State's Attorney Ann Celine O'Hallaren said in court.
O'Hallaren said the victim reported the allegations to a relative a short time later, sparking an investigation by the DuPage County Children's Center. She said investigators subsequently uncovered “inappropriate” text messages showing Penaflor was “essentially grooming the victim” for abuse.
Penaflor, who prosecutors described as an illegal immigrant, was already in custody on charges of possessing a fraudulent state identification card and domestic battery when he was charged with sexual assault Tuesday. The earlier case has been set for trial next week, according to court records.
In court Thursday, Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail in the assault case at $500,000 and ordered Penaflor to have no contact with the alleged victim. His bail in the other case is $150,000.
Penaflor is scheduled to appear March 19 in front of Judge George Bakalis.