Missouri man guilty of rape at Elgin hotel
A Kane County jury Thursday convicted a Missouri man of raping a woman at an Elgin hotel, despite her absence from testifying at trial this week, prosecutors said.
The jury deliberated about 10 hours before convicting Mudy A. Munoz-Salgado, of the 300 block of Locust Street, Eldon, Mo., of aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint.
Munoz-Salgado faces between eight and 35 years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 30 by Associate Judge Clint Hull.
According to prosecutors, Munoz-Salgado and the victim’s boyfriend were part of a construction crew that was hired for a temporary job in Elgin. The victim traveled from her Missouri home to visit her boyfriend at an Elgin hotel.
Munoz-Salgado was accused forcing the victim into a room at the Lexington Inn, 1585 Dundee Avenue, and sexually assaulting her Nov. 13, 2012, according to court documents.
Prosecutors secured a conviction even though the victim left the state after the investigation began and could not be located for the trial.
Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon thanked police and witnesses from the hotel who testified in the trial.
“Their willing assistance was extremely helpful in obtaining justice for this victim and holding the offender accountable,” McMahon said.
Munoz-Salgado was held at the county jail on $3 million bail since his arrest.