New judge assigned to attempted rapes case

The case against a Round Lake Beach man charged with trying to rape two women was assigned to a new judge Thursday.

Robert J. Evans, 28, is charged with attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault in connection with attacks on Oct. 15 and Oct. 31.

Evans is a registered sex offender, having been convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and sentenced to 6½ years in prison in 1999.

Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Snyder asked to have the case reassigned from Circuit Judge Fred Foreman.

Because Snyder filed the motion within 10 days of Evans' Nov. 29 arraignment, she did not have to state a reason for the request and it was granted automatically.

However, Foreman is the judge who presided over the case against Christopher Hanson, Evans' half brother.

Hanson, 30, was convicted last year of attempted murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping in an attack on a 19-year-old Wildwood woman.

Hanson, who had three prior convictions for attacks on women, received a mandatory life prison sentence.

Evans' case was reassigned to Circuit Judge George Bridges' courtroom, where he will appear Dec. 19 for scheduling.

Evans, who is held on $1 million bond, faces a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years if convicted in either attack.