Second accuser emerges in Waukegan sex assault case
A former school bus driver from Waukegan is facing additional felony sex charges after a second accuser came forward and told police she was abused as a child, authorities said.
Richard Villanueva, 57, was accused by two different people of sexual abuse, according to a news release from the Lake County state's attorney. The investigation found he knew the victims and the incidents weren't related to his job as school bus driver for the Waukegan school district.
In late August, Villanueva was charged with four felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault with a victim under the age of 13, stemming from accusations he repeatedly assaulted a relative more than a decade ago. He was also charged with criminal sexual assault to a victim under 18 and aggravated criminal sexual abuse to a victim under 18.
A woman in her 30s came forward after seeing those charges reported in the news and said Villanueva abused her for several years when she was a child, the news release said. She had wanted to come forward before, but a relative had mistakenly told her the statute of limitations had passed, the news release said
Villanueva now faces four additional felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The most serious charges carry a mandatory range of six to 30 years upon conviction.
Villanueva is being held in Lake County jail on $750,000 bail. Villanueva's next scheduled court appearance is Dec. 9, but he may appear in court earlier because of the additional charges.