76-Year-Old Man Told Girl He Would Die of Grief If She Revealed Years of Abuse: Prosecutors

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — A 76-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a girl for five years since she was 8 allegedly told his victim he would die of grief if she told her parents, according to the Daily Herald.

Chang Lee, of Morton Grove, was charged Tuesday with four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and held on $2.5 million bail. He could be sentenced from 24 to 240 years if convicted on all the counts.

According to prosecutors, the victim told her mother about the abuse — which allegedly lasted between July of 2011 until November of 2016 — only two weeks ago, the report stated. Before that, the victim's father had confronted Lee after the girl's mother saw something suspicious between her daughter and Lee, the report added.

During the years of abuse, Lee allegedly told the victim he would die from grief if she revealed their secret, and he allegedly offered to pay her $500 a month for her pain and suffering, the report stated. He also allegedly told police he shouldn't go to jail because he was old and would die soon, the report added.

Lee's lawyer echoed similar sentiments about his client's age and health during Tuesday's hearing. Because Lee suffers from a heart condition, high blood pressure and diabetes, the lawyer asked that his client be released to home confinement and electronic monitoring, a request that was denied, the report stated.

Lee's next court date is Feb. 24.

More via the Daily Herald

Chang Lee, 76 (photo via the Cook County Sheriff's Office)

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