Waukegan man pleads guilty to attacking jogger on bike path
A Waukegan man accused of attacking a female jogger on the North Shore Bike Path near Libertyville pleaded guilty in Lake County court Thursday to one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Denilson J. Martinez-Rodriguez, 22, could be sentenced up to seven years in prison when he appears for his sentencing hearing April 20, Assistant State's Attorney Eric Kalata said. Martinez-Rodriguez could also be sentenced to probation, Kalata said.
He remains held in Lake County jail while awaiting sentencing, Kalata said.
Kalata said he would not comment about the case until after the sentencing hearing.
Martinez-Rodriguez was charged with attacking the 22-year-old woman June 15 near the Route 176 bike path underpass, authorities said.
The victim was jogging west on the bike path when she noticed her way blocked by pooling water under Route 176, authorities said. She tried to scramble up a rocky embankment to avoid the water, but she was grabbed around the waist from behind by an unseen attacker, authorities said.
The victim elbowed the attacker twice in the ribs, giving her time to scramble up the side of the embankment and call for help, authorities said. The attacker ran away after the victim escaped.
Lake County Forest Preserve District police officers identified Martinez-Rodriguez after receiving surveillance video of him and his vehicle from a neighboring gas station, authorities said.
He was arrested in Gowe Park near Gurnee, where he was reportedly bothering joggers about one week later, authorities said. Police said Martinez-Rodriguez admitted to the attack during questioning.
He was initially charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint, and aggravated battery. The remaining charges were dropped Thursday in exchange for the guilty plea.