Elgin man gets 10 years for sexual abuse

A man from Elgin has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor.

Juan Pop-Pana, 26, was convicted in September of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child and intimidation, all felonies, according to a news release from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said between April 3, 2022, and June 3, 2024, Pop-Pana abused and assaulted the victim multiple times and also threatened to hurt the girl’s mother, according to a news release. Authorities said he knew the victim.

The sentence was seven years for the criminal sexual assault. He was sentenced to three years each on the sexual abuse and intimidation convictions, to be served after the assault sentence. He would have to serve almost 7½ years before being eligible for parole.

He received credit for the almost two years he has spent in jail awaiting trial and sentencing.

Pop-Pana must register for life as a sex offender.