Vernon Hills man gets 15 years for rape in store parking lot

A Vernon Hills man was sentenced Wednesday to the maximum 15 years in prison for raping a woman in a department store parking lot.

Jose Gutierrez, 32, was arrested for the sex assault several months later when he returned to the same store to shoplift.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue said Gutierrez, of 357 Farmington Circle, was in the Target store at 213 Townline Road around 8:30 p.m. on July 3, 2007. He followed a 23-year-old woman from the store into a remote section of the parking lot, pushed her to the ground and raped her.

On Oct. 9, Gutierrez was in the same store when a loss prevention officer recognized him as a suspect in the attack and observed him steal a radio from the shelves.

Vernon Hills police arrested him for the retail theft, and Gutierrez confessed to the rape during questioning.

LaRue said police also had DNA evidence linking Gutierrez to the sexual assault.

He pleaded guilty May 14 to criminal sexual assault with no guarantee of a specific sentence.

Wednesday, Gutierrez told Circuit Judge George Bridges he needed psychological help, but that the victim bore some responsibility for his actions because she had smiled at him in the store.

Bridges called that contention "ludicrous" and told Gutierrez the responsibility was his alone.

"The victim is not the reason you are here, Mr. Gutierrez," Bridges said. "You are here because you violated the laws of this country and the laws of this state."

Bridges told Gutierrez he will have to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence and then is likely to be deported to his native Mexico.