Ingleside man pleads not guilty of molesting girl

An Ingleside man accused of molesting a 5-year-old girl in broad daylight outside her home pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Joseph Ray Dalton, 23, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of predatory sexual assault of a child.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Rod Drobinski said Dalton, of 35673 David Court, was walking near Rollins Road and Oakwood Avenue the afternoon of April 18.

He happened upon the girl and her brother, who were playing in the driveway of their home, and molested the girl, Drobinski said.

Dalton then fled through a wooded area, and the children ran to tell their parents about the attack.

Police used a sketch artist to create a drawing of Dalton, and arrested him about a week after the attack when a sheriff's deputy recognized Dalton as the man in the picture.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a trial for June 9 and ordered Dalton, who is held on $350,000 bond to appear in court June 5.