Palatine man being held on $100,000 for stalking woman

A Palatine man who prosecutors say repeatedly contacted his estranged wife despite an order of protection and twice attempted to force his way into her apartment was ordered held on $100,000 bail Tuesday.

Eugenio Garcia-Sanchez, 36, was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated stalking, a class three felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Probation is also an option.

Prosecutors say the woman obtained an order of protection against Garcia-Sanchez in July 2019. They say he disregarded the order by calling her and attempting to enter her home, which led to his arrest for violating an order of protection. That misdemeanor is pending in Rolling Meadows.

In August, she observed him following her after she left her Des Plaines church, said Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Nicole Murphy. Around that time, the woman's roommate saw him hiding in a stairway at the woman's home. The roommate also said Garcia-Sanchez tried to force his way into the home, according to Murphy.

In October, he approached the woman outside her work and told her they should get back together, Murphy said. The following month he approached her as she left her home with her boyfriend, grabbed her arm and prevented her from getting into her car, Murphy said.

After telling the woman "she had used up her last chance due to calling the police too much," Garcia-Sanchez was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and violating an order of protection, Murphy said. Both cases are pending in Rolling Meadows.

On Jan. 5, while she and her boyfriend were at a Des Plaines store, Garcia-Sanchez entered the store, pointed at her while telling the boyfriend the woman was his, then fled the store, Murphy said.

The following day, the woman called 911 after she received a call from an unknown number and recognized the voice as Garcia-Sanchez's, Murphy said. At that time, he was charged with another misdemeanor violation of an order of protection.

He reportedly told the woman, "if she was not with the defendant she could not be with anyone else," Murphy said.

Garcia-Sanchez next appears in court on March 12.