Vernon Hills man admits to taping woman at Mundelein service station
A Vernon Hills man has admitted videotaping a female customer in the Mundelein gas station where he worked, authorities said Tuesday.
Julio C. Gomez-Valerio, 37, of 950 Cherry Valley Road, Apt. 207, pleaded guilty March 14 to unauthorized video recording.
Gomez-Valerio was fined $500 and won't spend any more time in jail if he obeys the terms of his plea agreement, Mundelein police said.
He was arrested in October after he hid a video camera in a women's restroom at the Shell station at 2250 S. Route 83. A woman using the bathroom found the camera and called police.
Gomez-Valerio was fired after the incident.
In addition to the fine, Gomez-Valerio was sentenced to18 months' probation. If he violates probation, he'll serve 170 days in Lake County jail.
Additionally, Gomez-Valerio must make a $250 contribution to the Lake County Child Advocacy Center, complete 100 hours of public service and not have any contact with the victim or the gas station, police said.
The case was one of three last year involving high-profile crimes against female patrons at Mundelein gas stations.
In August, an employee at the Clark station at 4 E. Hawley St. was accused of physically accosting a female customer, according to police. Four other female customers said they were solicited for sex at the station in incidents going back to 2005.
Several employees were involved in those incidents.
The village board later voted to suspend the station's business license for 15 days and to fine its owner $5,000. The owner also agreed to sell the business.
Elsewhere, an employee at the Marathon station at 301 Townline Road was arrested in October after police said he told a female customer who had just bought a lottery ticket she could win $40 by sleeping with him.
In June 2006, the same employee asked a female customer if she was wearing underwear, according to village documents. The victim in that case opted not to file charges.
The Marathon station was shut down for seven days and its owners fined $3,000 because of the incidents.