'He Has Made Comments About Knowing Dangerous People In Mexico, In Intimidating Ways': Joliet Victim

JOLIET, IL —A 31-year-old Joliet man who spent May 10-11 in the Will County Jail after his domestic battery arrest is now being detained under the SAFE-T-Act after Joliet police arrested him again, this time on charges of unlawful violation of an order of protection and violation of conditions of pretrial release.

This week, the Will County State's Attorney's Office filed the new charges against Jesus Banuelos-Vela, who comes from the apartment units in the 200 block of Ruby Street. There is a lengthy petition to deny pretrial release and the document explains the events surrounding the Joliet man's arrest on domestic battery charges earlier this month as well as the order of protection taken out against him.

"He has made comments about knowing dangerous people in Mexico, in intimidating ways. Jesus also threatens with taking the baby away from me. Since following through with the physical abuse threats, I'm afraid of him following through with the other threats. I'm scared for my safety and the safety of our baby," the woman's order of protection reads, according to Will County's prosecutors.

Prosecutors noted that back on May 11, Will County Judge Victoria Kennison heard the evidence and she granted the order of protection. Banuelos-Vela was released from the jail following his first arrest by the Joliet police on May 10. One of the conditions set forth was that he have no contact with the female victim, he must remain on electronic monitoring and stay away from the address in the 200 block of Ruby Street.

"Defendant made admissions after being arrested on this matter that he believed that he was in custody due to him contacting (the woman) days after being served with the OP. He admitted striking her in the face two times with an open hand. he further stated that the sex was consensual," prosecutors noted.

Prosecutors indicated that as part of the order of protection, the victim wrote, "Jesus was drunk and high. He accused me of making movements on his bank account and accusing me of freezing his account. I explained to him I did nothing. I asked him to let me help figure out. He then got aggressive, by slapping me across the face. He was demanding I told him where the money was. I had no idea. in the past, he threatened me with physical harm but hadn't done it until this day. While he abused me, he stated he was going to put a bullet in me and the baby ... Jesus threatened with cutting me up like a pig while holding a pocketknife. Jesus said if I had relations with him, he would stop the physical abuse. So I did, out of fear. I'm afraid of Jesus killing me or hurting me and or the baby."

The victim indicated that from the bathroom, she managed to send a message to her sister, who then reached out to another family member to call the Joliet police. "Officers identified themselves and asked the woman to step out. The woman stopped talking and the apartment went silent. Dispatchers relayed that defendant had a violent reputation. Officers set up a perimeter. After some time passed, the victim and her 6-month-old child came out. The victim was transported to the hospital," prosecutors indicated.

Banuelos-Vela Captured A Second Time

As for last weekend's arrest, Joliet police were called around 9:35 p.m. on May 22 to the apartment house on Ruby Street for a welfare check on the victim. Joliet police learned that Banuelos-Vela had entered inside the exclusion zone set forth in the order of protection and that he kept circling his vehicle around 229 Ruby Street. As Officer Hundley was on the scene, he saw the 2008 silver Acura driving on North Hickory Street without a license plate. During a traffic stop, the driver was identified as Banuelos-Vela and he was then arrested on the charges of violating the order of protection and violation of pretrial conditions.

"Defendant admitted to not reading the entire order of protection or his pretrial release conditions due to them being in English," court documents show. "He added that he was aware that he was not supposed to contact (the woman) but he could not help himself due to his daughter having medical issues."