Joliet Man Arrested In 2016 Rape Investigation

JOLIET, IL - On Tuesday afternoon, Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley announced the arrest of a 49-year-old Joliet man in connection with a sexual assault investigation that began in July 2016. Sheriff's detectives arrested Thomas R. Staszak, of the 700 block of Meadowwood Drive, on charges of one count of sexual assault, one charge of attempted sexual assault and one count of sexual abuse. Bond has been set at $50,000, meaning Staszak must come up with $5,000 to bail himself out of jail while his case awaits trial.

According to the Will County Sheriff's Department, on July 12, 2016, sheriff's deputies interviewed a 19-year-old man who told them he had been previously contacted by a man on a website geared for people looking to meet. According to sheriff's officials, the two men agreed ahead of time to meet up at a business parking lot in Joliet, but their encounter was not to involve any sexual acts. "The victim alleged that upon meeting Staszak in his vehicle he was sexually assaulted. The victim eventually was able to escape from Staszak's vehicle and began screaming for help," a sheriff's department press release stated.

A witness in the area saw the teenager yelling for help and called 911 at the time. The Joliet Fire Department transported the teenager to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center where he was treated and released. At the time of the incident, Will County sheriff's detectives did not know the alleged rapist's identity.

Then in March came a break in the case. Detectives were told about a possible suspect match on a website for people looking to meet. "Detectives were subsequently able to locate Staszak," the sheriff's department stated in Tuesday's release.

Booking mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department