New Sexual Assault Charges Against 96-Year-Old Lake Bluff Man

WAUKEGAN, IL — A second child has accused an elderly Lake Bluff relative of sexual assault, according to police and court records. Robert E. Bruce, 96, of the 400 block of Park Lane, faces five counts of predatory sex assault. He was initially charged last October with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under 13 in connection with assaults that allegedly occurred Oct. 4.

At the time, the parents of the victim were staying as guests in Bruce's home when the girl's mother told police that her daughter had been sexually assaulted, according to police reports.

The parents told police the family had been visiting for Bruce's 96th birthday.

The alleged victim's mother told police that around 1 a.m. Bruce had gone into the room where the children were sleeping "to tuck them into bed," the reports said.

She told police "shortly after Robert [Bruce] went into the room something happened and [her daughter] was very upset and ran downstairs to tell her father," according to the reports.

Bruce reportedly told one of the children "they were playing a game and they would play the same game again tomorrow night."

The parents quickly gathered their belongings and left the house, they told police. Bruce asked why they were leaving and where they were going, according to the reports.

"You know why," the girl's mother reportedly told him.

"I could see that he knew," she told police. "He hung his head and said 'Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh no...' as he shook his head and moaned as he went up the stairs."

Earlier this month, Bruce was indicted on three additional counts of the same offense in connection with an alleged assaults beginning in April 2014.

Police reports indicate Bruce had been a suspect in a related previous investigation but had never been charged.

Bruce appeared in court on Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney Douglas Zeit.

Zeit declined to comment on the case to Daily North Shore.

Belmonte told the website that a second member of Bruce's family accused him of abuse shortly after his arrest last year.

Bruce has not responded to requests for comment.

He is out on bail after providing 10 percent of a $100,000 bond, according to prosecutors. Under its terms, he must not have any contact with children and stay away from schools and parks.

Under state law, he faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted of sexual abuse of two different victims.

» Earlier: 96-Year-Old Charged With Predatory Sexual Assault