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Tennessee man charged with sexually abusing suburban girl

A Tennessee man who prosecutors say sexually abused a Northwest suburban girl beginning when she was 7 years old was ordered held on a $2.5 million bail Wednesday.

Charged with predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual assault, Douglas Nicholas, 45, faces up to 90 years in prison if he's convicted, prosecutors said.

Judge Joseph Cataldo ordered Nicholas pay the entire bail amount to be released from Cook County jail, rather than the 10 percent typically required.

Assistant State's Attorney Maureen McGee said Nicholas first abused the girl three or four times on her seventh birthday in 2005. After the girl told her mother the next day, she was sent from her Des Plaines home to live with a family member out of state, McGee said.

Between October and December 2013, when members of the girl's family were living at an Elk Grove Village motel, Nicholas sexually abused her again, choking her and threatening her if she told anyone, McGee said.

The girl again told her mother and was sent to live with other family members.

In May 2015, the girl reported to a school counselor that Nicholas had assaulted her several times over the years in several different states, McGee said. The counselor notified Des Plaines and Elk Grove Village police.

Nicholas next appears in court on Oct. 27.

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