Judge ups bond to $1 million for molestation suspect

A judge raised bond to $1 million for a suspected sex offender Thursday after the McHenry man admitted he violated a court order by speaking to and touching one of his three teenage accusers.

The ruling means Christopher R. Ostrander, 38, will remain in custody at the McHenry County jail unless he can come up with about $47,000 to go free while awaiting trial on about a dozen felony charges, including predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Ostrander was free on about $500,000 bond April 24 when, authorities say, outside a McHenry grocery store he approached a 19-year-old woman he is accused of having molested.

The woman testified Thursday that Ostrander asked her how she was doing and then mentioned his upcoming trial, at which, he said, her side would lose. He then asked for, and received, a hug, the woman said.

"(I was) anxious, very nervous," she said. "I had no idea what he was thinking at the time."

Ostrander choked back tears and described himself as "a very caring person" while admitting that he spoke with the woman. He testified the conversation was initiated by her, a claim she later denied.

"I knew I shouldn't have talked to her, but I didn't threaten her, I didn't say anything about dropping the charges," Ostrander testified. "I didn't dream I would run into her like that."

Judge Joseph Condon, who previously upped the defendant's bond under similar circumstances in 2006, said he has no doubt Ostrander would again violate the court order to stay away from the woman if he found himself in the same situation.

"I ordered you not to have any contact with this woman," the judge said. "I meant what I said."

For now, Ostrander is scheduled to face trial in September on the sex abuse charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years, though both sides indicated Thursday that the trial date could be moved up on the calendar.