Wheeling man charged with assaulting girl over 10 years held without bail

A 51-year-old Wheeling man was ordered held without bail on charges he sexually assaulted a girl over the course of a decade.

Vincente Almanza, 51, is charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault and two counts of criminal sexual assault.

Prosecutors say he began abusing the girl, now an adult, once or twice a month beginning in 2010. Almanza told the girl if she told anyone, he would go to prison, said Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Nicole Murphy.

Over the years, Almanza sent the girl messages and nude photographs that she showed family members, one of whom confronted him about the sexual content of the messages, Murphy said.

The most recent sexual assault occurred in March 2020, Murphy said. Afterward, the accuser reported Almanza to the police. His next court date is May 21.