Man Held Without Bond After Alleged Sexual Abuse Of Minor

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A McHenry County judge has ordered a 25-year-old Chicago man detained pending trial after prosecutors accused him of sexually abusing a minor in McHenry County, authorities said.

Milton Espino-Mejia appeared in court on Saturday, where Judge Mark Facchini granted the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office's petition to deny him pretrial release. Espino-Mejia is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony, and traveling to meet a minor, a Class 3 felony.

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Prosecutors said evidence presented at the detention hearing showed Espino-Mejia allegedly met the minor through his work as a photographer after attending a party where he was working. On Friday, he allegedly traveled from Chicago to meet and pick up the minor, and the two then went to a public park in Harvard, according to prosecutors.

Authorities said Espino-Mejia allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with the minor at the park. Harvard police officers later encountered Espino-Mejia and the minor at the park, according to the State's Attorney's Office.

During the investigation, Espino-Mejia allegedly admitted to officers that he had engaged in sexual conduct with the minor, prosecutors said.

Following arguments from both sides, Facchini ordered Espino-Mejia detained pending trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 6 in Courtroom 302.