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Man charged in 2011 Aurora kidnapping, rape

A 45-year-old Aurora man has been charged with kidnapping a woman from an Aurora park in August 2011 and raping and beating her.

Tracy S. Taylor was indicted by a Kane County grand jury in late June and was being held on $1 million bail in Cook County jail on kidnapping charges, also from August 2011.

Taylor, of the 2400 block of Autumn Grove Circle, is charged with kidnapping a woman Aug. 11 from the South River Street Park, 712 S. River St., Aurora, taking her to the Gilman Trail, where he beat, raped and robbed her, according to Kane County court documents.

Taylor faces charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping, criminal sexual assault by force, and robbery. The most serious charge carries up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

However, the top penalty could be increased to 60 years in prison if prosecutors successfully argue the crime was exceptionally heinous or indicative of wanton cruelty.

Fox Valley Park District Police Chief Mark Johnson referred comments to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, which declined to comment on the specifics of the case against Taylor. Prosecutors said the case had been under investigation since it occurred. The victim was an Aurora area woman and she somehow managed to escape from Taylor.

Taylor also faces kidnapping charges from Aug. 13, 2011, in Cook County and is next due in court there July 18. A court date in Kane County has not been set.

Taylor’s criminal history began in the 1980s, according to Kane County court records. He was arrested in November 1985 and charged with aggravated battery, but the charges were later dismissed. In December 1988 he was arrested by Aurora police and charged with felony robbery and later sentenced to two years of probation.

He was accused of aggravated criminal sexual assault in January 1990 in Aurora, found guilty and sentenced in October 1994 to 35 years in prison, records show. He was eligible to have his sentence halved for good behavior, though.

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