Former Elgin man held on 20-year-old sex abuse charges

A 52-year-old former Elgin man has been charged with predatory criminal sexual assault for crimes prosecutors say he committed against a young girl more than 20 years ago.

Everardo Palomo was ordered held on $35,000 bail Monday. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.

Prosecutors say Palomo began sexually abusing the girl - now 34 - when she was 10. When she was 12, the girl became pregnant and informed her mother, who slapped her and took her to a clinic to have an abortion, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Gintare Radvila.

Radvila said the abuse continued until the girl was about 17. In the intervening years, the girl told several people but made them promise to keep quiet, Radvila said.

In late December, both the woman and her brother confronted Palomo about the abuse, Radvila said.

Illinois' criminal statute allows for the prosecution of sexual abuse cases involving minor accusers to begin within 20 years of his or her 18th birthday.

Palomo next appears in court on May 5.