Palatine man charged with sexually abusing girl

A Palatine man was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail Wednesday on charges he sexually abused a young girl over several years beginning more than eight years ago.

Jorge Trejo-Arregoite, 41, must post the entire amount to be released from custody while awaiting trial.

Prosecutors say the abuse began in December 2013, when the girl was 5 and Trejo-Arregoite was 33, and continued until December 2017. The girl, who is now a teenager, "did not understand what she was doing," said Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Molly Anne Krebs, adding the defendant "told her it was a game."

The girl told a family member in January 2021, Krebs said. That family member confronted Trejo-Arregoite two months later and he apologized, Krebs said.

Last month, the girl told a school counselor. According to Krebs, Trejo-Arregoite told police "he knew this accusation would come one day."

Defense attorney Sam Amirante described his client's arrest as a "knee-jerk reaction to allegations from a teenage girl," adding that the state has not provided medical records to corroborate the girl's claims.

Cook County Judge Ellen Mandeltort ordered that Trejo-Arregoite have no contact with anyone younger than 18.

He's next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 4.