Caretaker gets 50 years for sexually assaulting child

A caretaker who was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl over the course of eight years was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison.

Pedro Terrazas, 36, of the 1100 block of Pleasant Place in Aurora, was found guilty by a Kane County jury in August of two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, five counts of criminal sexual assault, and five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse — all felonies.

Prosecutors said between 2002 and August 2010, Terrazas had sexual contact with a girl he was responsible for watching nearly every weekday while her mother was at work.

The victim, who was younger than 13 when the sexual assaults began, told a family member about the abuse, who then contacted authorities, according to prosecutors.

”This is a despicable crime committed by someone who had the responsibility to watch over and protect a young child,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a written statement.

Officials said Terrazas must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence on the most serious Class X and Class 1 felony sexual assault counts — or about 38 years.