Prosecutors: Hoffman Estates man sexually assaulted female ride-share driver

A Hoffman Estates man who prosecutors say sexually assaulted a female ride-share driver in May was ordered held on $50,000 bail Tuesday.

Joon Cha, 47, was charged with criminal sexual assault, a class 1 felony punishable by up to 12 years in prison. Probation is also an option.

When the driver picked Cha up in Hoffman Estates about 2:50 a.m. on May 12, she noticed him exiting a liquor store, according to prosecutors. Cha, who the driver believed was intoxicated, got into the front seat and fell asleep, prosecutors said.

Several miles from the drop-off location, Cha began complimenting the driver and placed his hand on her hand, according to prosecutors.

About a block from the drop-off, Cha kissed the woman, who stopped the vehicle and told him to stop or get out of the car. He refused, according to Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Maria McCarthy, climbed over the center console and assaulted her while she said "no" and tried to push him off.

After he returned to his seat, the driver tried to take a photograph of him with her phone, and at that point he left the car, prosecutors said.

The driver, who continued to work, picked up a new passenger and related the incident, according to prosecutors. The new passenger, who described the driver as flustered, encouraged her to tell the police.

She reported the assault to Elgin police initially, but Hoffman Estates police took over the investigation, according to McCarthy.

Cha next appears in court on Aug. 15.