Man Gets Prison In 'Most Violent, Horrifying' Case: Prosecutor

SLEEPY HOLLOW, IL — A Sleepy Hollow man who prosecutors said broke into his neighbor's home with plans to kidnap her, and then sexually assaulted her and stabbed her and her brother, has been sentenced to prison time. Fabian J. Torres, who also made headlines in 2011 when he threw a Molotov cocktail in Butera Market in Algonquin, agreed to a plea deal last week and was sentenced to 38 years behind bars in connection with the 2019 sexual assault and stabbing, prosecutors said.

The attack left the 19-year-old woman who was attacked, and her 17-year-old brother who came to her rescue, with physical and emotional scars they continue to recover from, said Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Bill Engerman in a statement following the sentencing last week.

“This is among the most violent and horrifying cases that I have encountered in my years as a prosecutor," Engerman said. "Mr. Torres is a dangerous individual who belongs in prison, away from civilization."

Torres, who was on parole in connection with the Butera incident at the time of the violent attack, has pleaded guilty t0 aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony, and two counts of attempted murder, also a Class X felony, according to a news release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

An unsealed search warrant against Torres, which was included in Torres' Kane County court records, showed police believe Torres snorted a line of cocaine before heading over to his neighbors' house on April 8 — his 32nd birthday — and entering through the unlocked front door in the 900 block of Saratoga Parkway at about 12:35 p.m., according to the Daily Herald.

Torres, who is now 34 years old, was armed with two knives.

The woman, who tried to get the knife away from him, was stabbed multiple times in her hands and calf and seriously injured, prosecutors said. Her teenage brother came to her aid, and Torres, who lived in the same neighborhood, stabbed him in his face, head and chest, according to prosecutors.

The teen was hospitalized and underwent surgery because of the injuries.

“The bravery that was shown by the two victims in this case is unimaginable given what they had to endure. My heart goes out to this family, which continues to heal after the depravity shown by this defendant," Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser said in a statement. "Our community is safer with Mr. Torres in prison.

Authorities say Torres, who also lived in the 900 block of Saratoga Parkway, met the woman over the weekend. He fled the scene following the attack, but he was arrested a short time later.

Torres admitted to the sexual assault and stabbings, according to prosecutors.

Torres has already been behind bars at the Kane County Jail for 829 days — time which will be credited toward his 36-year sentence. He will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence.

Torres has since faced additional charges while behind bars for throwing urine and feces in September 2019 at correctional officers and for stabbing another inmate with a pencil just weeks after he was jailed in the Sleepy Hollow attack, according to authorities.

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