WOODSTOCK – McHenry County sheriff's police arrested a 20-year-old Elburn man this morning for allegedly forcing sex on a teenaged girl between August 2006 and June 2007.
Sean A. Lewis, of the 400 block of E. Willow St., Elburn, was charged with criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse in connection with an incident outside Cary. Lewis, formerly of Cary, accepted a misdemeanor plea agreement in October in McHenry County Circuit Court for similar charges involving a different alleged victim and was sentenced to probation.
In the new case, the girl, who was between the ages of 14 and 16 at the time, recently shared her allegations with Wauconda and Cary police, according to a sheriff's press release.
Sheriff's police developed enough evidence to charge Lewis in connection with a single incident but other police agencies are investigating alleged incidents in Aurora, Elburn and Missouri, said Sheriff's Lt. Andy Zinke.
If convicted of the most serious charge he faces, Lewis could be sentenced to probation or to between four and 15 years in prison. Lewis remained in McHenry County jail this morning unable to post 10 percent of his $75,000 bail and is expected to appear in court Thursday.
In October, Lewis pleaded guilty to a reduced sex abuse charge after prosecutors said the alleged victim ran away to avoid testifying against him. Lewis had been accused of forcing sex on a 14-year-old girl in January 2007 by threatening to stab her, although he did not allegedly have a knife during the alleged incident.
Without the girl's testimony, prosecutors could not prove aggravated criminal sexual assault, which was punishable by a minimum of six years in prison, officials said in October. The reduced charge reflected Lewis' statements that he had a consensual sexual relationship with the girl, who is not the same girl involved in the new case.
As part of the plea agreement, Lewis was required to register as a sex offender for 10 years. The state police sex offender registry listed Lewis as compliant this morning.
