Des Plaines man charged with sexual assault

A letter between middle school students intercepted by a teacher led to the arrest of a Des Plaines man on charges he sexually assaulted a minor.

Eduardo Contreras, 45, of the 7500 block of North Elmhurst Road, appeared in a Rolling Meadows courtroom Monday, where Cook County Judge Jill Cerone Marisie set his bail at $300,000.

Authorities say the middle school student wrote a letter to a friend claiming Contreras tried to sexually assault her.

A teacher intercepted the note and turned it over to the principal, who then contacted a social worker who found the student’s claims credible. During a subsequent interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Hoffman Estates, the victim said Contreras abused her several times, authorities said.

Contreras has a DUI conviction from 2001 and a conviction for driving on a revoked license in 2006, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Lesley Gool.

If convicted of criminal sexual assault, Contreras could face four to 15 years in prison. He next appears in court on Nov. 9.