Lake in the Hills man pleads not guilty to molestation charges

A Lake in the Hills man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl as far back as 2005 entered a not guilty plea Wednesday and asked for a jury to decide his case.

Robert W. Lucht, 52, faces three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse stemming from claims that first surfaced when the girl, now 11, went to a school counselor for help.

According to a petition seeking an order of protection on the girl's behalf, Lucht admitted, when confronted over the phone by the victim's mother, to "touching" her since she was about 7 or 8 years old.

Lucht also faces a misdemeanor charge claiming he violated a court order by going to the victim's home in April after posting a $100,000 bond on the molestation charges.

As part of Wednesday's proceedings, a judge agreed modify Lucht's bond - now set at $200,000 - to allow him to live with family in Indianapolis while awaiting trial. He is due back in court June 17.