Police: Aurora man on lam after 2017 sex assault arrest caught after DUI chase
A 39-year-old Aurora man, who was on the lam after a 2017 arrest on several sexual assault charges, was arrested Sunday morning after leading Kane County sheriff's deputies on a drunken chase that began in Hampshire and hit speeds of 94 mph along Randall Road, authorities said.
Roberto Velez Sr., of the 1200 block of Titsworth Court, was initially arrested in November 2017 on two felony charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under 13 and five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to Kane County court records. Velez faced a punishment of 12 to 60 years in prison if convicted of the most severe charges, along with lifetime registration as a sex offender. He failed to attend a court hearing, and the $13,000 he posted as bond was forfeited in August 2018, records show.
According to a Kane County sheriff's report, a deputy made a traffic stop about 3:51 a.m. Sunday near Route 47 and Rohrsen Road near Hampshire involving the driver of a red 2001 Ford Explorer for disobeying a stop sign. The driver, later identified as Velez, pulled over to the shoulder, and as the deputy got out of his squad car, Velez hit the gas, shooting gravel toward the deputy as he drove off, reports said.
Officers sped after Velez as he traveled north on Route 47 and eventually entered eastbound Interstate 90, then exited on southbound Randall Road in Elgin, reports said. Deputies learned Velez was wanted on a warrant for sexual assault as his vehicle hit speeds of up to 94 mph and drove through traffic lights and stop signs, the report said.
Velez eventually pulled over at Russell and Hardin avenues in Aurora and surrendered to deputies. After his arrest, officers said he smelled of alcohol, refused field sobriety tests and open alcohol was found in his vehicle, the report said.
He is charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, no insurance, speeding 35 mph over a posted speed limit, driving while license suspended and illegal transportation of alcohol, according to court records and a sheriff's report.
Velez is now being held at the Kane County jail on $598,000 bail, meaning he must post $59,800 to be released while the charges are pending. He faces a top punishment of three years in prison on the DUI chase charges. He is next due in court Wednesday.